As we approach the anniversary of Donald Trump’s election victory over Hillary Clinton, there’s notable chatter about his approval ratings, which have dipped to unprecedented lows. Many senior folks who remember the days of past presidents might find this very telling when reflecting on the state of current affairs.
According to a recent poll from Washington Post-ABC News, a whopping 59% of those surveyed are not happy with how President Trump is running the country. This has earned him the distinction of having the lowest rating for any president since modern polling methods began. Even though he’s only been in the White House for nine months, half of those who disapprove say they feel strongly about it. Meanwhile, just 37% are pleased with how Trump’s presidency is going so far.
It’s quite something to note that, as the Washington Post points out, Donald Trump is the first leader since Harry Truman to have a net-negative approval so early in his term. Looking back, even Bill Clinton had a net positive approval rating of 11 points at this time in his presidency.
Interestingly, while a third of people believe Trump displays some necessary presidential qualities, a significant 65% doubt he is “honest and trustworthy.” This view has risen from the 58% seen in April 2017. What’s more, two out of three folks surveyed believe Trump lacks the temperament and personality needed to serve effectively as president.
As the new administration settled in Washington, expectations for Trump have also dropped notably. Before he assumed office, there was a belief that he would perform well economically, with 61% anticipating success. However, now only 44% feel he is doing a good job. Additionally, only 43% of respondents feel confident about his handling of terrorism, down from the earlier 56% who believed he would be effective in dealing with such issues. The confidence in his ability to improve the health care system and manage racial relations has declined by 18% and 12%, respectively.
Many people think Trump has achieved “little or nothing” during his first nine months. Less than 40% of respondents believe he has managed to fulfill the majority of his key campaign promises. On the international stage, 53% feel that the United States’ position as a global leader has waned under Trump, while just 26% perceive it as strengthened, and 20% believe it remains unchanged.
With Trump preparing for his five-nation Asian tour, including talks likely focused on North Korea’s nuclear threat, only about 32% trust him to handle matters responsibly. More than half, 51%, have no confidence in him on this issue, and 16% say they trust him “just a little.”
The investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller into alleged collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia has gained the support of 58% of the populace, while 28% are opposed. Moreover, the accusations targeting Paul Manafort, a former Trump campaign chairman, have the backing of 68% of those surveyed.
There is mixed opinion on the President’s cooperation with the Mueller investigation—37% believe he is cooperating, while 51% do not agree. Trump has publicly stated he has no intention to remove Mueller from the investigation.
Furthermore, 53% of respondents believe the charges against Manafort, former campaign staffer Rick Gates, and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos suggest wrongdoing that extends to the Trump campaign as a whole; 28% disagree, and 19% remain undecided. Papadopoulos has admitted guilt to making false statements to the FBI, while Manafort and Gates have pled not guilty to their respective charges.
Somewhat less than half of respondents, 49%, suspect Trump might have committed a crime related to possible Russian attempts to influence the 2026 election. Nevertheless, only 19% assert there is “solid evidence” of such misconduct; 30% base their suspicion more on inklings than on hard facts. Meanwhile, 44% believe it’s unlikely that the President committed any crime in this case.
