The following is from Rasmussen Reports.

A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 45% of likely US voters say the government doesn’t do enough to protect US businesses, while just 17% say they think the government does too much. Twenty-five percent (25%) say the current level of protection is about right.

The findings show broad support for Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent statement at a Michigan factory: “If we do not protect our nation’s manufacturers, we lose a fundamental part of who we are as a people. Making things, building things, working with our hands is America’s heritage.” Seventy-three percent (73%) say they agree with that quote, including 41% who say they strongly agree. Only 21% say they disagree.

Among voters who strongly agree with Vance’s sentiment, 66% say they believe the government isn’t doing enough to protect US manufacturing.

Support crosses party lines. Eighty-six percent (86%) of Republicans, 67% of Democrats and 69% of unaffiliated voters say they at least somewhat agree with the statement.

By ideology, 87% of conservatives, 71% of moderates and 53% of liberals say they at least somewhat agree that manufacturing is a core part of American identity.

Looking at the 2024 election, 64% of Trump voters say they strongly agree with Vance’s quote, compared to just 22% of Harris voters who say the same.

The national survey of 1,048 likely US voters was conducted April 2-3 and 6, 2025. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points.

To view survey question wording, click here.