A new poll shows stark partisan divides, echoing a World War II theologian’s insights on conformity, power, and moral surrender as Republicans overwhelmingly support President Donald Trump’s second term policies, while independents and Democrats mostly don’t.
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll conducted in February 2025 reveals overwhelming Republican support for Trump’s aggressive policy agenda, including mass deportations, economic protectionism, and dismantling federal programs.
Meanwhile, independents and Democrats largely reject the measures, which have been primarily instituted by executive orders that frequently violate the Constitution of the United States and federal laws.
The data underscores a widening ideological chasm, one that theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer—an anti-Nazi dissident executed in 1945—might attribute not to mere partisanship, but to what he termed “stupidity”: a societal abandonment of critical thought in service to power.
Poll Findings: A Partisan Gulf
The poll highlights policies where Republican approval exceeds 70-90%, compared to sub-50% support among non-Republicans:
- 88% of Republicans support deporting undocumented immigrants accused of non-violent crimes (vs. 49% non-Republicans).
- 85% back ending federal DEI programs (vs. 27%).
- 76% support pardoning nonviolent Jan. 6 convicts (vs. 26%).
- 72% endorse detaining immigrants at Guantánamo Bay (vs. 22%).
Only deportation of violent criminal suspects garners bipartisan majority support (86% non-Republicans vs. 96% Republicans).
Bonhoeffer’s “Stupidity”: A Moral Failure, Not Ignorance
Incarcerated for resisting Hitler, Bonhoeffer wrote that “stupidity” arises when individuals surrender moral agency to authoritarian systems. It is not a lack of intelligence but a “mental block” fostered by fear, propaganda, and tribal allegiance.
“Stupidity becomes dangerous when combined with power,” warned Bonhoeffer, as groups transfer responsibility to leaders, enabling harmful acts through conformity.
The poll’s stark divides align with Bonhoeffer’s framework. Republicans, as Trump’s core base, disproportionately back policies critics deem legally dubious or economically risky—from tariffs (82% GOP support) to ending birthright citizenship (66%).
Non-Republicans, less enmeshed in Trump’s ideological orbit, reject most measures.
The Asch Experiment: Conformity’s Grip
Bonhoeffer’s theory mirrors Solomon Asch’s 1951 conformity study, where 75% of participants echoed group answers they knew were wrong.
Similarly, the poll suggests Republicans may prioritize tribal loyalty over scrutiny. For instance, 85% of GOP voters approve of Trump’s job performance (vs. 24% non-Republicans) and 73% of the Republicans trust billionaire South African immigrant Elon Musk’s federal government role (vs. 17%).
This poll paints a picture of a nation deeply divided along ideological lines, with Republicans embracing a transformative, nationalist agenda and non-Republicans largely viewing it as lawless, radical or dangerous.
This is why it’s useful to understand what the difference is between patriotism and nationalism.
George Orwell, the author of “Animal Farm” and “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” described patriotism as “devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life.” He contrasted that with nationalism, which he describes as “the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”
Key differences appear to revolve around immigration, tariffs, federal workforce changes, and trust in figures like Elon Musk.
On immigration, 66% of Republicans support ending temporary legal status for migrants from conflict-ridden countries, compared to just 24% of non-Republicans, reflecting a 42-point gap. Similarly, 58% of Republicans back ending birthright citizenship for children of foreign workers or students—a policy opposed by 73% of non-Republicans, creating a 31-point divide. Deportation policies highlight even starker contrasts: 57% of Republicans support deporting parents of U.S.-citizen children (vs. 17% of non-Republicans, a 40-point gap), 56% of Republicans endorse deporting immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for over a decade (vs. 18% of non-Republicans, a 38-point gap), and 51% of Republicans favor deporting those who arrived as children (vs. 15% of non-Republicans, a 36-point gap).
On economic nationalism, 70% of Republicans support imposing a 25% tariff on Mexican imports, dwarfing the 18% approval among non-Republicans—a 52-point chasm. A similar trend emerges for Canada, with 63% of Republicans backing a 25% tariff (vs. 16% of non-Republicans, a 47-point gap). These figures underscore GOP prioritization of protectionism over multilateral trade norms.
Federal workforce policies reveal ideological rifts: 73% of Republicans support making it easier to fire longtime federal workers, while only 20% of non-Republicans agree—a 53-point divide. Republicans also broadly endorse empowering private figures like Elon Musk in government, with 56% approving of Musk unilaterally shutting down federal programs (vs. 12% of non-Republicans, a 44-point gap) and 70% approving of Musk’s federal job performance (vs. 17% of non-Republicans, a 53-point split). Notably, 67% of Republicans express no concern about Musk’s team accessing Americans’ Social Security and tax data, compared to 18% of non-Republicans—a 49-point gulf highlighting divergent views on privatization and data security.
Controversial policies further illustrate polarization: 53% of Republicans support blocking federal health agencies from public communication without Trump appointee approval (vs. 12% of non-Republicans, a 41-point gap), and 32% of Republicans back pardoning violent Jan. 6 convicts (vs. 7% of non-Republicans, a 25-point margin).
Key Takeaways: The poll underscores a nation fractured along partisan lines. Republicans overwhelmingly embrace hardline immigration measures, protectionist trade policies, and the dismantling of bureaucratic norms, while non-Republicans reject these steps as radical or harmful. Trust in figures like Musk and Trump remains a defining feature of GOP loyalty, contrasting sharply with non-Republican skepticism. These divides reflect not just policy disagreements but fundamentally opposed visions of governance, nationalism, and societal values.
“People ignore self-evident truths to avoid conflict,” Bonhoeffer observed, a dynamic amplified by today’s media ecosystems that equate dissent with disloyalty.
Combating “Stupidity”: Courage Over Reason
Bonhoeffer argued that “stupidity” resists facts alone. It requires moral courage to think independently. Solutions include:
- Critical Engagement: Scrutinizing sources, rejecting misinformation.
- Ethical Responsibility: Prioritizing collective good over partisan wins.
- Defying Tribalism: Resisting pressures to conform, even at social cost.
The 2025 poll reflects real trends: polarization, authoritarian populism, and the decline of institutional trust. Bonhoeffer’s insights remind us that the antidote to “stupidity” is not intelligence but integrity—a willingness to stand against the tide, even when facts fall second to allegiance. As he wrote months before his execution: “The ultimate test of a moral society is the world it leaves to its children.”
The Washington Post-Ipsos poll, conducted February 2025, surveyed 1,500 U.S. adults. “Republican” and “Non-Republican” include leaners. Margin of error ±3.5%.