Public views of President Donald Trump have continued to decline. One year into his second term, his approval rating now stands at 37 percent. This marks a drop from 40 percent recorded last autumn.
Many Americans feel disappointed with the administration’s progress. Currently, 50 percent of adults say actions have been worse than they expected. Only 21 percent believe the results have been better than anticipated, says a survey from Pew Research Centre.
Republican Support Sees a Sharp Decline
Support for the President’s policies has also seen a significant decrease. Today, only 27 percent of Americans support all or most of Trump’s plans. This is a drop from 35 percent when he returned to office.
Notably, this change has occurred entirely among Republican voters. Last year, 67 percent of Republicans supported most of his policies. That figure has now fallen to 56 percent.
Concerns Over Leadership and Fitness
A new survey of 8,512 U.S. adults examined six key presidential qualities. More Americans express little or no confidence in Trump than those who are confident. Confidence has dropped across all measured areas since last year.
Currently, 34 percent of Americans feel confident in Trump’s leadership skills. However, 51 percent say they are not confident in his leadership. Physical and mental fitness also remain major points of concern.
About half of Americans lack confidence in his mental fitness. Similarly, 50 percent lack confidence in his physical fitness. Only three-in-ten respondents expressed confidence in these specific measures.
Ethical Standards and Democratic Values
Public confidence in the President’s ethics has reached a new low. Only 21 percent of Americans feel confident that Trump acts ethically in office. Meanwhile, 60 percent express little or no confidence in his conduct.
This decline is most visible among members of his own party. Last February, 55 percent of Republicans were confident in his ethics. That share has now fallen to 42 percent.
Views on his respect for democratic values have also weakened. Only 25 percent of Americans are confident that Trump respects these values. Among Republicans, this confidence dropped from 60 percent to 52 percent.
Shifting Obligations in Congress
The survey also highlights a change in how Republicans view their representatives. Today, 61 percent of Republicans believe GOP members of Congress have no obligation to support Trump.
This is an increase from 55 percent recorded last year. These voters believe members should not support the President if they disagree with him. Only 38 percent feel congressional members must support him simply because he is a Republican.
Q&A: Understanding the Latest Pew Survey
What is the current approval rating for President Trump?
The President’s approval rating has dipped to 37 percent. This is a decrease from 40 percent in the fall.
Which group is driving the decline in policy support?
The decline is driven almost entirely by Republicans. Their support for most policies dropped from 67 percent to 56 percent.
How do Americans view the President’s ethical conduct? Confidence is very low. About 60 percent of Americans express little or no confidence that the President acts ethically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What percentage of Americans support all of Trump’s plans?
Only 27 percent of Americans currently support all or most of his policies and plans.
How many people participated in the Pew Research survey?
The survey included 8,512 U.S. adults. It was conducted between 20 January and 26 January.
Is there confidence in Trump’s mental and physical fitness?
Roughly half of the public is not confident in his mental or physical fitness to do the job.
Do Republicans feel their members of Congress must always support Trump?
No. A 61 percent majority of Republicans believe GOP members should follow their own views if they disagree.
Has confidence in Trump’s ability to pick advisers changed?
Yes. Only 25 percent of Americans now feel confident that the President picks good advisers.
