Socialism in practice means more power for the Trump administration, experts say

Support for socialism is growing in the United States, but what voters believe could be a system that rewards ordinary people with more power could end up reducing their quality of life and handing the Trump administration more control, experts say.

A recent CBS News poll shows 58% of Democrats view socialism positively, compared to just 32% of Democrats who say the same of capitalism. Favorability toward socialism among Democrats rose from 50% in 2010 to 66% in 2025, according to historical data tracked by Statista. The view is particularly on the rise among young people, who will hold the power in both parties down the road. A CNBC poll with Generation Lab published in August found that nearly half of all Americans ages 18 to 34 have a favorable or very favorable view of socialism.