DECEMBER HARVARD CAPS / HARRIS POLL: TRUMP APPROVAL RATING RESETS TO 47% POST-SHUTDOWN; AFFORDABILITY AND INFLATION TOP ECONOMIC WORRIES HEADING INTO 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) released the December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll (Dec 2-4, 2025; n=2,204). Key findings: Trump approval at 47% (+3 pts vs Nov); 62% say Republicans won the shutdown; 68% approve the shutdown compromise. Economic concerns dominate: 59% cite inflation/cost of living as top issue and 71% overestimate inflation. Voter trust favors GOP on the economy (55%) despite 57% saying Trump is losing the battle on inflation. Broad policy support includes 86% for lowering drug prices, 72% for H-1B visas, and 70–78% support for Trump’s Israel-Gaza peace plan.

Positive

• Trump approval at 47% (+3 pts vs November 2025)
• 68% approve the shutdown compromise
• 86% support lowering prescription drug prices
• 72% support granting H-1B visas

Negative

• 59% say inflation/cost of living is their top economic concern
• 71% overestimate current inflation
• 57% say Trump is losing the battle against inflation
• 85% say the shutdown hurt the U.S. economy

Key Figures

Price change 2.59% STGW move prior to poll publication

Current price $5.74 Versus 52-week range $4.03–$8.04

Trump approval 47% December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll; up 3 points from November

Shutdown deal support 68% Voters approving compromise that ended the government shutdown

Inflation importance 59% Voters citing inflation/cost of living as top economic factor

H-1B visa support 72% Voters supporting granting of H-1B visas

Peace plan support 78% Voters supporting Trump’s 21-point peace plan when given details

Sample size 2,204 voters Online survey conducted December 2–4, 2025 in the U.S.

Market Reality Check

$5.74 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,811,612 is at 1.06x its 20-day average of 1,715,413, indicating mildly elevated interest ahead of this poll release. normal

Technical Shares at $5.74 are trading above the 200-day MA of $5.31 and about 28.61% below the 52-week high of $8.04.

Peers on Argus

Peers show mixed moves: CRTO up 6.06%, IAS up 0.19%, while ZD, QNST, and EEX are down between about 0.2% and 1.9%. STGW’s 2.59% gain appears more company-specific than sector-driven.

Common Catalyst Only IAS has same-day news, focused on AI and media quality; there is no shared macro or regulatory theme across the peer group linked to this STGW political polling release.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 04	Leadership alignment	Positive	+5.0%	Named first Global Chair to unify communications and advocacy agencies.
Dec 03	Executive appointment	Positive	-0.4%	Appointed new CEO of Harris Quest to lead AI-powered research tools.
Nov 25	AI partnership	Positive	-1.1%	Announced strategic agentic AI partnership with Gradial for marketing teams.
Nov 25	Product integration	Positive	-1.1%	Integrated UNICEPTA’s AI agent with Microsoft 365 Copilot applications.
Nov 24	Data privacy deal	Positive	+2.8%	Partnered with Harvard OpenDP to embed differential privacy in data platform.

Pattern Detected

Recent STGW news is largely positive (AI, privacy, leadership, new verticals), but price reactions have been mixed, with 3 divergences and 2 alignments, suggesting investors do not consistently reward favorable announcements.

Recent Company History

Over the last few weeks, Stagwell reported several strategic updates. On Nov 24, it partnered with Harvard’s OpenDP to add differential privacy to its Palantir-powered marketing platform. On Nov 25, it announced both a Gradial AI partnership and a UNICEPTA–Microsoft 365 Copilot integration. Early December brought leadership moves, including a new CEO for Harris Quest on Dec 3 and a new Global Chair for Communications and Advocacy on Dec 4, with that vertical expected to approach $400m in 2025 net revenue. Today’s Harvard CAPS / Harris poll release fits this pattern of showcasing the firm’s data and political insights capabilities.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement showcases Stagwell’s Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, highlighting detailed voter views on Trump’s approval, inflation, and foreign policy. It underscores STGW’s position in political research alongside recent moves in AI, data privacy, and a new communications and advocacy vertical targeting $400m in 2025 net revenue. Investors monitoring the story may focus on how recurring, widely cited polls translate into client demand, as well as how these insights integrate with Stagwell’s broader marketing and analytics offerings.

Key Terms

tariffs financial

"Trump's job approval is lowest on handling inflation (40%) and tariffs and trade policy (42%)."

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries. They increase the cost of those goods, which can lead to higher prices for consumers and impact international trade. For investors, tariffs matter because they can influence the profitability of companies, affect supply chains, and shift economic stability across different regions.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

62% OF VOTERS SAY REPUBLICANS WON THE SHUTDOWN FIGHT, AND 68% APPROVE OF THE DEAL THAT ENDED IT

55% TRUST TRUMP AND THE GOP TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY, 10 POINTS AHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATS, YET MOST VOTERS THINK TRUMP IS LOSING THE BATTLE ON INFLATION

59% SAY INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING MATTERS MOST TO THEM WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY

MOST VOTERS MISINFORMED ON THE ECONOMY WITH MAJORITY SAYING ECONOMY IS SHRINKING AND 71% OVERESTIMATING INFLATION

72% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE GRANTING OF H1-B VISAS

85% SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF MADURO FROM VENEZUELAN OFFICE

78% SUPPORT TRUMP'S 21-POINT PEACE PLAN FOR ISRAEL-GAZA, BUT 68% WORRY HAMAS IS NOW REARMING

64% OF VOTERS SAY UKRAINE SHOULD RECEIVE DIRECT SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM THE U.S. IF IT MAKES TERRITORIAL CONCERSSIONS

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

President Donald Trump's approval rating is at 47%, up 3 points from November. The bump is reflected across each policy issue. Trump's job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (51%) and returning America to its values (50%), and lowest on handling inflation (40%) and tariffs and trade policy (42%). This month's poll also covered public opinion on the government shutdown, economy, H1-B visas, drug boat strikes, Israel-Hamas conflict, war in Ukraine, and Venezuela. Download the key results here.

"This poll is a clear bounce back from the government shutdown when attitudes of the American public were really going off of a cliff," said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. "But the concern for inflation – and what's perceived as the administration's failure to deal with it – is the dominant thing weighing down the administration. The State of the Union will be an important opportunity for the President to address some of these issues."

GENERAL ATTITUDES REVERSE TO PRE-SHUTDOWN LEVELS

• 39% of voters say the country is on the right track (+4 pts., November 2025).
• 47% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong (+4).
• The Republican Party approval rating is at 46% (+2), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 41% (-2). Congressional approval is at 35% (+8).
• 47% of voters say inflation or affordability is the most important issue to them personally, including a majority across political parties.
• Inflation and the economy remain the top two most important issues facing the country today, followed by healthcare.

MOST TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT

• Most of Trump's policies continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (86% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (80%), eliminating fraud in government expenditures (77%), and launching government website to buy discounted drugs directly from manufacturers (70%), with each receiving two-thirds support or more across political parties.
• Trump's least popular policies include adding work requirements to Medicaid programs (43%), deploying the National Guard to American cities (51%), and tariffs (52%).
• 55% of voters say Trump's policies will increase inflation (Democrats: 78%; Republicans: 30%; Independents: 59%).
• 43% of voters, a plurality, say Trump's policies will make them financially worse off.

VOTERS VERY NEGATIVE ON SHUTDOWN, APPROVING OF COMPROMISE AND MORE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH MODERATES IN THE FUTURE

• 62% of voters say Republicans won the government shutdown. Voters are split on which party caused the shutdown.
• 85% of voters say the shutdown hurt the U.S. economy.
• 46% of voters say the recent government shutdown affected them personally.
• 71% of voters say moderate Democrats made the right call to end the shutdown (Democrats: 59%; Republicans: 83%; Independents: 71%), and 68% of voters approve of the compromise that ended the shutdown.
• 77% of voters say leaders should negotiate more through moderates like those who backed the deal that ended the shutdown, including a majority across political parties.

DESPITE TRUSTING TRUMP AND GOP OVER DEMOCRATS TO HANDLE THE ECONOMY, MAJORITY STILL SEE TRUMP LOSING BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION

• 55% of voters say they trust the Trump administration and Republicans to manage the economy over Democrats in Congress (+6 pts., November 2025).
• 71% of voters say inflation is above 3% a year right now, including a majority across political parties, with the median estimate among both Democrats and Independents at 5% and 4% among Republicans.
• 57% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation, and 56% say his tariff policies are harming the economy.
• 57% of voters say the economy is shrinking (-5; Democrats: 77%; Republicans: 31%; Independents: 64%).

VOTERS PERCEIVE THE LAST TIME THE ECONOMY WAS "GOOD" WAS PRE-PANDEMIC 2020

• 48% of voters, a strong plurality across political parties, say the economy was last "good" in 2020 before the pandemic.
• Price of groceries or household items is the top influence on voters' views of the economy in the past three months (79%), followed by gas prices (55%) and personal financial situation (39%).
• 59% of voters say inflation or cost of living matters most to them when thinking about the state of the economy.
• 49% of voters say stories about the economy are negative (incl. the majority of Democrats and Independents), while 23% of voters say they are positive (incl. the plurality of Republicans).
• Voters are more likely to trust than distrust statements on the economy from government economic agencies and the Federal Reserve.
• After learning inflation has been below 3% since October 2023, 44% of voters, a plurality, say the new information improves their view on the economy, with 45% of voters saying they thought inflation was higher.

BROAD SUPPORT FOR H1-B VISAS

• 72% of voters support the granting of H-1B visas, including a strong majority across political parties.
• 54% of voters say H-1B visas do not cost Americans jobs (Democrats: 61%; Republicans: 45%; Independents: 56%).
• 64% of voters say H-1B visas help America become more innovative, including a majority across political parties.
• 61% of voters say there will always be a need for specialized talent from abroad, including a majority across political parties.

INCREASING SUPPORT FOR MADURO'S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

• 64% of voters say Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should be removed from office. When given context of Maduro's election fraud and narco-terrorism indictment, 85% of voters say he should be removed, including a majority across political parties (+4).
• Among those who support Maduro's removal, 76% say the U.S. should arrest Maduro and take him to the U.S. to face trial (+3).
• 54% of voters generally support Trump's policy toward South and Latin America.
• 74% of voters say Maduro's government is an enemy of the U.S., and 64% say it is an ally of China and Russia. 71% of voters believe it supports criminal cartels and illicit activities.

BROAD RECOGNITION FOR DRUG OVERDOSE AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WITH TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. DESTROYING DRUG BOATS

• 67% of voters say they support the US government destroying boats bringing drugs into the US from South America. 63% believe the boats are appropriately targeted for destruction.
• 65% of voters believe the Venezuelan government is participating in the drug trade, including a majority across political parties.
• 77% of voters say deaths from drug overdoses are a major problem, including a majority across political parties. 64% say drug-related deaths are deadlier than gun violence (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 77%; Independents: 66%).
• 54% of voters say the U.S. military was wrong to launch the second missile that may have killed survivors, with voters split on whether this is a major incident or blown up for political purposes.

MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRUMP'S PEACE PLAN, BUT VOTERS WORRY HAMAS IS REARMING

• 70% of voters support Trump's deal to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages and end hostilities in Gaza, including a majority across political parties and age groups.
• 68% of voters support Trump's 21-point peace plan for Gaza. When given more details about the plan, 78% support it. 58% of voters say the peace plan played a large role in ending the war.
• 78% of voters say any deal should require Hamas to completely disarm and disband (+4). However, 68% of voters believe Hamas is rearming, including a majority across political parties.
• 59% of voters say there is still a lot of active fighting in Gaza on the ground.
• 69% of voters believe Iran is rebuilding its nuclear capability.
• 48% of voters, a plurality, say Arab governments should be responsible for ensuring Hamas disarms and disbands, while 33% say the U.S. should be responsible and 20% say Israel.

VOTERS BACK U.S. SECURITY GUARANTEES IF UKRAINE COMPROMISES

• 56% of voters say Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia will allow the country and the world to move forward in peace and end the bloodshed. Voters remain split on whether Ukraine should concede or if it can win territory back.
• 64% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war with Russia.
• 53% of voters say they are satisfied with how Trump is managing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
• 65% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia, including a majority across political parties.

The December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on December 2-4, 2025, among 2,204 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. 

About The Harris Poll & HarrisX

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics.  Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.

Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

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SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

FAQ

What is President Trump's approval rating in the December 2025 Harvard CAPS / Harris poll for STGW?

President Trump’s approval rating is 47%, up 3 points from November 2025.

How did voters view the government shutdown in the Dec 2-4, 2025 Harris poll (STGW)?

62% say Republicans won the shutdown fight and 68% approve the compromise that ended it.

What do voters list as their top economic concern in the December 2025 poll (STGW)?

59% of voters say inflation or cost of living matters most to them personally.

How do voters perceive Trump's handling of inflation in the Dec 2025 Harvard CAPS / Harris poll?

57% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation; 71% overestimate current inflation.

What levels of support did the Dec 2025 poll find for H-1B visas and drug price reforms (STGW)?

72% support granting H-1B visas and 86% support lowering prescription drug prices.