Most voters are doubtful about whether President-elect Donald Trump will keep his business interests separate from his presidential role, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Tuesday.
When asked how much of Trump's "business interests and positions" would affect his decisions as president:
- A lot: 52 percent.
- Some: 29 percent.
Voters were more split on whether the president-elect's business ties would help his presidency, with 39 percent saying business interests and positions is a good thing, while 44 percent said it's a bad thing.
Breaking down the results by party affiliation:
- 73 percent of Republicans say Trump's business ties are a good thing.
- 73 percent of Democrats say his ties are a bad thing.
Many were doubtful that Trump would remain unswayed by the conflicts. When asked if Trump would take actions to help his businesses, 43 percent said "very likely," while 26 percent said "somewhat likely."
A majority of Republican voters believes he would take actions that benefit his business interests:
- Very or somewhat likely: 52 percent.
- Not too likely: 14 percent.
- Not likely at all: 8 percent.
When asked what Trump should do with his businesses:
- 30 percent say sell off all of them.
- 15 percent said sell off some.
- 27 percent said don't sell any.
- 27 percent had no opinion.
Other results showed:
- 61 percent say Trump shouldn't keep stocks in businesses that deal with federal government.
- 58 percent think he shouldn't have holdings in other countries.
- 55 percent think he shouldn't keep casinos.
- 51 percent say he shouldn't keep interest in his whole company.
- 50 percent say he shouldn't keep his hotels.
- 49 percent think he shouldn't hold stock in private companies.
- 47 percent think he shouldn't keep golf courses.
- 43 percent say he shouldn't retain mutual funds.
- 20 percent had no opinion.
On Monday, Trump postponed an announcement on how he would handle his business interests.
The New York Times reported that Trump said his company would make "no new deals" while he is president.
The Politico/Morning Consult poll was conducted Dec. 8 through Dec. 11, and surveyed 2,000 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.