According to a recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS, two-thirds of registered voters in the United States perceive the growing diversity of races, ethnic groups, and nationalities as enriching the nation’s culture. However, a rising minority within the Republican Party sees this trend as a cultural threat.
The poll highlights a significant dividing line between supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A majority of 56% of Trump supporters believe that increasing diversity threatens American culture, in sharp contrast to just 10% of Harris backers who share this view. This division is reflective of the broader political conflict surrounding immigration and cultural integration in the United States.
Former President Trump has frequently targeted immigrants in his political rhetoric, including during his first debate against Harris. During the debate, he reiterated baseless claims about Haitian immigrants, claims which have since been disavowed by other Republican politicians. His running mate, JD Vance, has also perpetuated these claims, referring to Haitian immigrants as ‘illegal aliens,’ despite their legal entry into the country.
Conversely, Vice President Harris has taken a strong stance on immigration, criticising Trump’s calls for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Harris plans to visit the US-Mexico border, further underscoring her administration’s commitment to addressing immigration issues.
The poll also reveals that 54% of registered voters believe the federal government does too much for immigrants, with opinions sharply divided along party lines. Among Trump supporters, 80% hold this belief, compared to just 26% of Harris supporters. Approximately 40% of Harris backers believe the government should do more for immigrants, compared to a mere 9% of Trump supporters.
Views on increasing diversity as a cultural threat vary among Trump supporters. Among the former president’s staunchest supporters, 61% see it as a threat, whereas this figure drops to 44% among those who support Trump more as an opposition to Harris. Furthermore, younger Trump supporters are less likely to view diversity as a threat, with 45% of supporters under 35 holding this view, compared to 59% of those aged 35 and above.
The Republican Party’s perspective on diversity has notably shifted since Trump first won the presidency in 2016. Currently, 53% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters view growing diversity as a cultural threat, a significant increase from 39% in 2016. Democratic-aligned voters, on the other hand, have shown more consistency in their views, with a majority still viewing diversity as enriching American culture.
In the upcoming presidential election, the poll indicates that Harris leads Trump by a 15-point margin on the issue of handling racial inequality. Trump, however, holds a 14-point advantage on handling immigration. Trump supporters overwhelmingly trust him on immigration issues, with 95% believing he would manage it better, including 92% who also see diversity as enriching. However, only about two-thirds trust him on handling racial inequality. Among those who view diversity positively, this trust dips further, with 58% trusting Trump and 32% trusting neither candidate.
The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS from September 19 to 22, 2024, involving 2,074 registered voters nationwide. The margin of sampling error for the full sample of registered voters is plus or minus 3.0 percentage points.
This poll underscores the deepening divide within the American electorate on issues of diversity and immigration. As the nation approaches the presidential election, these contrasting viewpoints continue to shape the political landscape, reflecting broader societal debates on cultural identity and national values.
