Americans’ views of President Donald Trump, already more negative than positive, have continued to slip one year into his second term, according to the latest poling data from the estimable Pew Research Center.*
A new Pew survey of 8512 U.S. adults, conducted Jan. 20-26, also finds that – across six key qualities and abilities needed to serve as president – more Americans express little or no confidence in Trump than say they are extremely or very confident in him.**
Click for more.
Research at a Glance
- Trump’s approval rating stands at 37%, down from 40% in the fall.
- By more than two-to-one, Americans say the administration’s actions have been worse than they expected (50%) rather than better (21%).
- Only about a quarter of Americans today (27%) say they support all or most of Trump’s policies and plans, down from 35% when he returned to office last year. That change has come entirely among Republicans.
Trump’s Qualities and Abilities as President
“Today, 34% of Americans say they are extremely or very confident that Trump has the leadership skills needed to serve as president. A larger share (51%) are not too or not at all confident. Another 14% are somewhat confident.
“Similarly, about half say they are not too or not at all confident Trump has the mental fitness (52%) or physical fitness (50%) to do the job. Roughly three-in-ten express confidence on these measures.
“Even fewer say they are confident that Trump respects the country’s democratic values (25% are extremely or very confident) or that he picks good advisers (25%).
Americans express the least amount of confidence in Trump to act ethically in office. Just 21% are extremely or very confident he does this, while 60% express little or no confidence,” Pew said.
Similar Declining Pattern Across All Six Qualities Pew Asked About
Pew found that 60% of Republicans said last February that they were extremely or very confident Trump respects the country’s democratic values. It’s 52% today. And while 66% of Republicans say he has the mental fitness to do the job, that’s down from three-quarters last year. Democrats’ confidence in Trump on these measures remains very low.
There has also been a significant decline over the last year in the share of adults who say they agree with Trump’s plans and policies.
- Last year, 35% said they supported all or most of his plans, 17% supported some of them and 47% supported only a few or none.
- Today, 27% say they support all or most, 20% support some and 52% support few or none.
“The decline in support has come exclusively among Republicans. Last year, 67% said they supported all or most of Trump’s plans and policies. Today, 56% do. Very small shares of Democrats say they support his policies. Most (87%) support only a few or none,” Pew said.
Do Republicans in Congress have an obligation to support Trump?
Today, 38% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say that congressional Republicans “have an obligation to support Trump’s policies and programs because he is a Republican president.” But a far larger share (61%) say GOP members of Congress DO NOT have an obligation to support Trump if they disagree with him. The share saying Republicans in Congress do not have this obligation is up since last year, from 55%.
Other Key Pew Research Findings
- Democrats overwhelmingly say their congressional leadership should stand up to Trump. Today, 82% (up from 70% last year) want to see their leaders pushing back against Trump, even if that makes it harder to address problems. A smaller majority of Republicans (61%) say Trump should stand up to Democratic leaders. This is similar to their views a year ago.
- Nearly half of Americans (47%) now say Trump will be an unsuccessful president in the long term. This share is up 14 points since last year, with most of this change occurring among Democrats. A majority of Republicans continue to say Trump will be successful in the long run.
- Trump’s approval among Republicans is now 73% – down slightly since September. Older Americans, White adults and those without a college degree continue to approve of his performance more than others.
*AutoInformed on
**About Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center says it is a non-partisan, non-advocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. It studies politics and policy; news habits and media; the internet and technology; religion; race and ethnicity; international affairs; social, demographic and economic trends; science; research methodology and data science; and immigration and migration. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
Americans’ views of President Donald Trump, already more negative than positive, have continued to slip one year into his second term, according to the latest poling data from the estimable Pew Research Center.*
A new Pew survey of 8512 U.S. adults, conducted Jan. 20-26, also finds that – across six key qualities and abilities needed to serve as president – more Americans express little or no confidence in Trump than say they are extremely or very confident in him.**
Click for more.
Research at a Glance
Trump’s Qualities and Abilities as President
“Today, 34% of Americans say they are extremely or very confident that Trump has the leadership skills needed to serve as president. A larger share (51%) are not too or not at all confident. Another 14% are somewhat confident.
“Similarly, about half say they are not too or not at all confident Trump has the mental fitness (52%) or physical fitness (50%) to do the job. Roughly three-in-ten express confidence on these measures.
“Even fewer say they are confident that Trump respects the country’s democratic values (25% are extremely or very confident) or that he picks good advisers (25%).
Americans express the least amount of confidence in Trump to act ethically in office. Just 21% are extremely or very confident he does this, while 60% express little or no confidence,” Pew said.
Similar Declining Pattern Across All Six Qualities Pew Asked About
Pew found that 60% of Republicans said last February that they were extremely or very confident Trump respects the country’s democratic values. It’s 52% today. And while 66% of Republicans say he has the mental fitness to do the job, that’s down from three-quarters last year. Democrats’ confidence in Trump on these measures remains very low.
There has also been a significant decline over the last year in the share of adults who say they agree with Trump’s plans and policies.
“The decline in support has come exclusively among Republicans. Last year, 67% said they supported all or most of Trump’s plans and policies. Today, 56% do. Very small shares of Democrats say they support his policies. Most (87%) support only a few or none,” Pew said.
Do Republicans in Congress have an obligation to support Trump?
Today, 38% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say that congressional Republicans “have an obligation to support Trump’s policies and programs because he is a Republican president.” But a far larger share (61%) say GOP members of Congress DO NOT have an obligation to support Trump if they disagree with him. The share saying Republicans in Congress do not have this obligation is up since last year, from 55%.
Other Key Pew Research Findings
*AutoInformed on
**About Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center says it is a non-partisan, non-advocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. It studies politics and policy; news habits and media; the internet and technology; religion; race and ethnicity; international affairs; social, demographic and economic trends; science; research methodology and data science; and immigration and migration. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.