Nearly 60 percent of Americans oppose Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
Fifty-seven percent of all adults surveyed disagreed with Trump's proposal, versus 25 percent who agreed.
Among Republican Party members, however, Trump's proposal won 42 percent approval. By contrast, 75 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents – members of neither major U.S. political party – said they oppose Trump's call for a ban on all Muslim visitors.
A separate Associated Press survey found 8-in-10 Republican voters think Trump is decisive and competent – two characteristics that matter most for them – although the Republican front-runner drew lower ratings when those same voters were asked to rate his likability, compassion and honesty.
The AP poll was taken before Trump's call to ban Muslims coming into the U.S.
The NBC/WSJ poll – taken December 6-9 – showed a solid majority of Americans have positive opinions of Muslims – 59 percent to 29 percent. Those numbers are relatively stable dating back to 2002.