President-elect Donald Trump’s “hostile takeover” of the government in Washington, D.C. is a break with traditional transition procedures — one that has received broad public approval, with 59% of Americans supporting his approach, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll.
The transition team has eschewed standard government processes, avoiding collaboration with the General Services Administration, rejecting FBI background checks for appointees, and excluding the State Department from diplomatic communications.
Instead, operations run from Mar-a-Lago with private lawyers handling vetting.
The public has shown generally positive reactions to Trump’s cabinet picks. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary received 47% approval, while Marco Rubio for Secretary of State garnered 44% support. Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard received lower approval at 33% and 36% respectively.
Most non-positive respondents weren’t negative — they simply said they had insufficient information to judge the selections.
Not everyone was positive about the unconventional takeover of power, though.
“The Trump team is attempting to convert the government into an instrument of his private agenda,” Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said.
The transition team has not signed traditional ethics pledges or conflict-of-interest agreements, blocking access to federal resources and transition funding. Despite these departures from norm, even controversial policies have found widespread support – 57% favor Trump’s planned mass deportations, with 82% prefer immigration and border patrol agencies be allowed to ramp up efforts to secure the border.
Public optimism extends to economic issues, with 44% believing Trump’s actions will reduce food and grocery prices, while just 35% expect increases. Partisan divisions remain stark, with 95% of Republicans feeling optimistic about Trump’s term compared to just 15% of Democrats. However, Democratic opposition appears muted, with only 44% reporting motivation to actively oppose Trump.
“He should not trust the politicized and weaponized intelligence and law enforcement agencies that hobbled his presidency the first time,” said Mike Davis, president of the Article III Project, defending the unconventional approach.
The CBS News/YouGov poll, conducted November 19-22 from 2,232 U.S. adults with a ±2.3 point margin of error, shows Americans largely accepting Trump’s transition strategy despite its departure from historical precedent.