Most Americans expect the wealthy, white people, males and conservative Christians to gain influence under a Donald Trump presidency, according to a new poll.
A Pew Research Center study looking at expectations about which groups in society will gain and lose influence under his administration also shows that Hispanics, poor people and gays and lesbians are expected to lose influence by the majority of people polled.
The national survey of some 1,502 American adults, which was conducted between 4th and 9th January, shows that 64 per cent of people expect wealthy people will gain influence, 52 per cent expect conservative Christians to do so and 51 per cent expect whites and males to also gain influence. At the other end of the spectrum, 56 per cent of those polled expect Hispanics to lose influence, 55 per cent expect poor people to lose influence and 54 per cent expect gays and lesbians to lose influence.
In terms of other groups, more people also expect black people and women will lose than gain influence – 48 per cent expect black people will lose influence compared to 19 per cent who believe they will gain influence while 46 per cent expect women to lose influence as opposed to 23 per cent who expect them to gain influence. Some 40 per cent expect younger people to lose influence, 30 per cent expect them to gain influence and 27 per cent expect their influence won’t be affected.
Other responses showed that 74 per cent of respondents expect business and corporations will gain influence under a Donald Trump presidency and 64 per cent expect the military will gain influence. In contrast 60 per cent expect environmentalists will lose influence and 54 per cent expect the same of union leaders.
And as many as 40 per cent of people polled said they expect to lose influence while 27 per cent expect to gain influence.
