A majority of U.S. adults oppose Donald Trump’s plan to ban all Muslims from entering the country — but Republican primary voters are split evenly, a new poll shows.
Trump’s proposal is opposed by 57% of American adults and supported by 25%, an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released Thursday shows.
But Trump finds more support for his proposal among Republicans who are likely to vote in the 2016 presidential primary. Those voters are divided almost evenly: 38% support Trump’s proposal, while 39% oppose it.
And among adults who identify as Republicans — even if they might not vote in the primary — 42% support Trump’s plan, while 36% oppose it.
It’s a stark contrast with the 75% of Democrats and 55% of independents who oppose Trump’s call to ban Muslims from entering the United States.
The poll also found that while 59% of Americans have a favorable view of Muslims compared with 29% who don’t, just 43% of Republicans hold a favorable view of Muslims while 48% don’t.
Americans are also split on Trump’s overall approach to the 2016 campaign.
A plurality of Americans, 41%, say Trump’s campaign statements are frequently insulting and he has the wrong approach on many issues. But 24% say he’s raising important issues, even if they are bothered by his manner and language. And 22% say he’s telling it like it is and has the right approach.
Trump fares better among Republicans, with just 16% saying they find him insulting while 37% believe he’s raising important issues despite his language and 40% say he’s telling it like it is.
The survey of 495 respondents was conducted December 8-9 and includes a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.