What Did the Voters Vote For?

Here’s an list of major Biden-administration policies (or approaches strongly associated with Democratic priorities) that were frequently criticized as out of step with majority public opinion, along with what the second Trump administration has done to modify or reverse them (as of late 2026).

I will stick to verifiable actions and note polling patterns where they are well-documented. “Most of the people” is measured by national polls; results vary by exact question wording and timing, but the patterns below were consistent across multiple major surveys in 2022–2024.

1. Transgender Athletes in Girls’/Women’s Sports

Biden-era approach:
The Department of Education proposed (2023) and pursued rules under Title IX that would have limited or prohibited schools from imposing blanket bans on transgender students competing according to their gender identity. Broader Title IX regulations expanded the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity. The specific athletics rule was delayed and later withdrawn in December 2024 amid controversy and lawsuits.

Public opinion: Multiple polls (YouGov, Manhattan Institute, etc.) consistently showed 60%+ of Americans favoring the requirement that athletes compete according to biological sex / sex assigned at birth, especially in girls’ and women’s categories.

Trump reversal:
Early 2025 executive orders defined sex as binary and biological for federal purposes and directed that biological males not compete in women’s sports. The administration has actively enforced Title IX against schools and states that allow transgender women/girls in female categories.

2. Border Security and Immigration Enforcement

Biden-era approach:

• Ended or restricted several Trump-era tools (Remain in Mexico / MPP, border wall construction priority, certain asylum restrictions).

• Expanded humanitarian parole programs (notably CHNV for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans).

• Heavy use of catch-and-release and notices to appear while asylum claims were processed.

• Record high southwest border encounters in FY 2022 and 2023.

• Later tightened rules in mid-2024 (asylum restrictions when encounters were high).

Public opinion: Consistently high majorities viewed the border situation as a serious or major problem and favored stronger enforcement.

Trump reversals of Biden policies (2025 onward):

• Reinstated and expanded Remain in Mexico.

• Restored and accelerated border wall construction.

• Suspended or sharply limited many parole programs and refugee admissions.

• Ended CBP One app processing as previously used.

• Declared a border emergency, increased military support, expanded expedited removal, and launched large-scale interior enforcement/deportation efforts.

• Encounter numbers dropped dramatically.

3. Other Notable Policies Frequently Cited as Unpopular with Majorities

Policy Area Biden-era Approach Typical Public Opinion Pattern (2022–2024) Trump Administration Action Gender identity in federal policy Recognized gender identity in many federal contexts, documents, and protections Majority preferred biological sex definitions, especially for sports, prisons, and shelters Executive orders defining sex as biological/binary; restricted gender-identity recognition in federal policy DEI programs in federal government Expanded diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across agencies Mixed to negative among independents and the broader public on race/gender preferences Executive orders ending federal DEI programs and related mandates Student loan forgiveness Multiple attempts at broad cancellation (partially blocked by courts) Divided; often opposed by those who did not take loans or already repaid them Largely halted broad forgiveness efforts Energy / climate regulations Pause on new oil/gas leases early on, strong emphasis on green energy transition, EV mandates Energy prices and energy independence were majority concerns Reversed many restrictions, prioritized domestic fossil fuel production Crime / policing messaging Early support for “reimagining” policing in some contexts; federal guidance shifted later Majority preferred stronger policing and were concerned about crime spikes in 2020–2022 Emphasis on law-and-order, support for police

Public Opinion

Polling on broad student-loan cancellation was consistently mixed to negative among the overall public:

• Strong support among younger voters, Democrats, and current borrowers.

• Significant opposition from people who never took out loans, already repaid them, or viewed cancellation as unfair to taxpayers and those who paid their debts.

• Many surveys showed the policy underwater or only narrowly supported once costs and fairness concerns were highlighted.

Important Context

• Not every Democratic-aligned policy was unpopular. Some (infrastructure spending, certain drug-price measures, background checks) polled well.

• Popularity is not uniform—Democratic voters often supported the above policies while independents and Republicans largely did not. National majorities frequently tilted against the more progressive versions on gender/sports and border enforcement.

• Many changes occurred via executive action or regulation rather than new statutes, which is why a subsequent administration could reverse them relatively quickly.