A recent informal poll conducted at a major conservative gathering has shed light on the stark divisions within the movement regarding key figures in President Donald Trump's administration. The survey, taken at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest event, highlighted which cabinet members enjoy strong support and which face significant skepticism from the grassroots base.
AmericaFest Poll Reveals Clear Favorites and Skepticism
During the AmericaFest 2025 convention organized by Turning Point Action, attendees participated in a straw poll designed to gauge opinions on hot-button issues. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for TPUSA, explained to Fox News Digital that the goal was to get clarity on the conservative base's stance following the assassination of the group's founder, Charlie Kirk, in September. The unscientific poll offered a snapshot of sentiment among the conservative youth in attendance.
The results revealed a clear hierarchy of approval within Trump's cabinet. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emerged as the most popular figure, with a staggering 83% of respondents indicating they "strongly approve" of his job performance. He was followed closely by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. (80.8% strong approval), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (78.6%), and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (72.8%).
Attorney General Pam Bondi Faces Notable Disapproval
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the poll identified a significant point of contention. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi received the lowest approval rating, with only 32.9% of those polled expressing strong approval for her work. The disapproval ratings were notably high, with 15.6% somewhat disapproving and 13.4% strongly disapproving. Blake Neff, a producer for "The Charlie Kirk Show," pointed out that Bondi was the only cabinet member to have her disapproval ratings reach double digits.
Kolvet suggested this sentiment reflects a broader "skepticism" among attendees toward the Department of Justice under Bondi's leadership. This skepticism exists within a specific political context, as the Trump administration has recently faced intense scrutiny over its handling of documents related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Context: Epstein Documents and DOJ Tensions
The release of Epstein-related files has become a flashpoint. A conservative campaign to force full disclosure of the documents reportedly met with resistance from both President Trump and Bondi's Justice Department during Trump's second term. The administration released a portion of heavily redacted files on a Friday in late December, followed by a new batch on the subsequent Tuesday.
This latest release included potentially significant details, such as an email from a New York prosecutor alleging that Donald Trump had flown on Epstein's private jet more frequently than investigators had previously known. The tension between the base's demand for transparency and the administration's cautious approach appears to be a key factor influencing the poor perception of the Attorney General among the conservative activists surveyed at AmericaFest.
The straw poll results underscore a moment of introspection and clear factional lines within the conservative movement, with specific cabinet members becoming focal points for either strong support or pronounced doubt.
