A recent Fox News Digital focus group revealed strong support among Republican and independent voters for President Donald Trump's executive actions concerning transgender issues in sports and other areas. The group, comprised of 156 voters from across the political spectrum, viewed a clip of Trump signing his "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order and generally approved of his statements regarding gender and meritocracy.
Trump's assertion that there are only two genders – male and female – resonated positively with these voters. His actions to restrict federal funding for transgender surgeries also saw increased approval among Republicans and independents, while Democratic voters' opinions remained largely unchanged. Focus group conductor Lee Carter, president of Maslansky + Partners, noted that support for these positions stemmed not from transphobia, but rather from concerns about children, responsible decision-making, and the use of taxpayer dollars.
One participant expressed appreciation for Trump's actions to limit government spending on what they considered inappropriate areas. The focus group also reacted favorably to Trump's remarks on his executive orders challenging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and promoting a merit-based system. His statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he emphasized a return to meritocracy, saw a significant surge in approval from Republican and independent voters.
Carter highlighted the strong positive response to the concepts of "merit-based" and "common sense." One participant praised Trump's ideas and common-sense approach, despite acknowledging his sometimes abrasive style. The focus group consisted of 75 Democratic voters, 49 Republican voters, and 32 independent voters. According to Fox News, Trump has issued a large number of executive orders since taking office, significantly more than his predecessors in their initial weeks. A recent Marquette Law School Poll indicated that his executive order on recognizing only two sexes enjoyed broad support nationwide.
