Unexpected Support: Trump Voters Favor Solar Power, Especially When Made in the U.S.
Despite the Trump administration's consistent opposition to renewable energy sources, a recent poll indicates that a significant majority of voters aligned with the former president support solar power, particularly when domestically manufactured. The survey, conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and shared exclusively with Axios, polled a group identified as “GOP+,” encompassing Republicans, Trump voters, and GOP-leaning independents. The findings challenge the prevailing perception that right-leaning voters are inherently opposed to renewable energy.
The poll revealed that 51 percent of respondents expressed support for utility-scale solar projects – large-scale solar power plants that feed electricity into the national grid. Conversely, 30 percent of those surveyed voiced opposition to such projects. Notably, support for solar power surged to 70 percent among respondents when the solar panels are produced domestically and free from Chinese components. Furthermore, 68 percent of those polled agreed that a diverse range of electricity generation methods, including solar, are necessary to maintain affordable energy costs. The survey was conducted between January 19 and 21, involving 800 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent.
According to the polling memo, the support for solar among GOP+ voters reflects a desire for energy independence and lower electricity bills. The analysis suggests that the widely held belief that right-leaning voters are against solar power is largely inaccurate. This finding comes at a time when the Trump administration has consistently expressed skepticism towards renewable energy, including solar and wind power. In public statements dating back to July 2025, former President Trump has frequently dismissed these energy sources as detrimental to the United States. He has even labeled wind and solar power as “the scam of the century.”
The Trump administration’s policies have actively hindered the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure. In 2025, the administration halted all new offshore wind leases, citing national security concerns, effectively stalling a significant portion of the country’s renewable energy development. Approvals for major onshore wind and solar projects were also slowed or suspended. A review by Reuters indicated that the administration’s freeze on these approvals has left thousands of megawatts of clean energy capacity in limbo, impeding progress in the renewable sector. Former President Trump has long voiced his opposition to wind turbines, exemplified by his protests against offshore wind farms near his Scottish golf course.
During the most recent World Economic Forum in Davos, former President Trump reiterated his long-standing criticisms of wind energy. He stated that instead of closing down existing energy plants, his administration was “opening them up” and that the focus should be on taking down wind turbines rather than approving new ones. He also repeated the unsubstantiated claim that China does not utilize its own wind turbines, asserting that China only sells them to other countries and profits from exports. This narrative contradicts the reality that China possesses the world’s largest onshore and offshore wind power capacity and manufactures turbines for both domestic use and export.
The unexpected support for solar power among Trump-aligned voters highlights a potential disconnect between the administration’s rhetoric and the actual preferences of a significant portion of its base. This finding suggests that the opposition to renewable energy from the Trump administration may not be universally shared by its supporters, particularly when considering the benefit of domestically produced solar technology. The poll underscores the complexity of the energy debate and the need for a nuanced understanding of voter sentiment.
Source:
