South Carolinians Have Mixed Feelings About Trump and Musk According to Winthrop Poll

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Feelings toward President Donald Trump are split among South Carolinians according to the latest Winthrop Poll. While 44% express positive feelings toward Trump, 43% view the president negatively. Concerning billionaire Elon Musk, 45% express negative views as opposed to 35% who view him positively. A deep partisan rift exists among South Carolinians about the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Eighty-one percent of Republicans say the phrase “too extreme in its positions” describes the Democratic Party well while 82% of Democrats say the same about the Republican Party. While the phrases “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” and “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives” are associated more with the Democratic party, the phrases “governs in an honest and ethical way,” “is good at getting their way,” “is willing to do what it takes to win elections,” and “will not compromise to achieve their goals” are associated more with the Republican party among South Carolinians.

The following are more GENERAL POPULATION results from the survey of South Carolinians: 

• 71% favor or strongly favor laws or policies that require transgender athletes to compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender with which they identify.
• 62% favor or strongly favor laws or policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination in jobs, housing, and public spaces such as restaurants and stores.
• 56% favor or strongly favor laws or policies that require transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with.
• 55% favor or strongly favor laws or policies that would make it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for a gender transition.
• 50% favor or strongly favor laws or policies that would make it illegal for public school districts to teach about gender identity in elementary schools.
• 50% oppose or strongly oppose laws or policies that would require health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions.
• 37% have positive feelings toward DOGE; 32% have negative feelings and 19% are neutral.
• 39% express positive feelings toward DEI programs while 29% express negative feelings; 23% are neutral.
• 42% have positive feelings toward federal government employees; 33% feel neither positively nor negatively and 20% feel negatively.
• Illegal immigration is the most serious of issues asked among Republicans. The country not doing enough to take care of the poor is the most serious for Democrats.
• 47% think things in the nation are on the wrong track; 44% think things in the state of South Carolina are headed in the right direction.
• Approval ratings among all respondents: President Donald Trump: 44%; Governor Henry McMaster: 43%; Senator Tim Scott: 41%; Senator Lindsey Graham: 35%.

For more analysis, comments from Poll Director Scott Huffmon, questions and responses, and methodology, go to: https://www.winthrop.edu/winthroppoll/2025-april-winthroppoll-results.aspx

Results of the GENERAL POPULATION from the survey are of 1,546 (weighted) South Carolinians and have a Margin of Error of +/-2.49%.

The survey was conducted online between April 4 and April 12, 2025. Data are weighted by sex, race, age, and education.

The Winthrop Poll is conducted and paid for by Winthrop University. 

For additional information or to set up an interview with Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404 (office) or 803/984-0586 (cell).