Key Points:
- Donald Trump’s presidential approval rating has fallen to its lowest point during his tenure, with more Americans disapproving of his handling of rising living costs.
- The Reuters/Ipsos poll, concluded on Sunday, indicates that 40% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, down from 42% in a previous poll conducted October 15-20.
- Trump’s popularity has hovered around its current level in all Reuters/Ipsos polls since mid-May, with the percentage of people disapproving his performance growing from 52% in a May 16-18 poll to 57% in the latest survey.
- Trump won the election last year promising to curb inflation that hurt his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden. However, Americans give Trump exceptionally low marks on managing the costs for American households.
- The inflation rate has increased since Trump took office in January, despite a weakening labor market leading the country’s central bank to lower interest rates.
- Public reaction to the partial government shutdown, the second longest in US history, has been moderate. Only 29% expressed indifference or happiness about the shutdown, while 20% were angry and 50% frustrated.
- Despite Republicans’ majority in both Congressional chambers, Democrats have blocked spending bills in the US Senate. They’ve pledged to maintain their stance until Republicans agree to extend health insurance subsidies set to expire by year-end.
- Approximately 73% of those surveyed want to maintain the health insurance subsidies, despite arguments that they will increase federal budget deficits.
Context and Background:
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, served from January 2017 until January 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy changes, contentious political battles, and a highly polarized nation. As his term neared its end, Trump’s approval ratings became a focal point for assessing his legacy and the public’s perception of his performance.
Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic successor, won the 2020 presidential election with promises to address issues like rising living costs and healthcare accessibility. Biden’s victory underscored the electorate’s concerns about economic inequality and the impact of inflation on everyday Americans.
The ongoing partial government shutdown during Trump’s final days in office further highlighted the deep political divisions within the United States. The prolonged shutdown affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers, prompting public reaction that the Reuters/Ipsos poll aimed to gauge.
Public Reaction to Government Shutdown
According to the poll, most Americans expressed only mild concern about the partial government shutdown. Only 29% said they were indifferent or even happy about it, while 20% expressed anger. Frustration was the most common sentiment, with 50% of respondents feeling that way.
The poll results suggest that despite the significant impact on federal workers, the broader public perceives little to no personal consequence from the ongoing shutdown. This could be attributed to the complex nature of government operations and the general public’s limited understanding of the intricate details involved.
Partisan Divide on Government Spending and Health Insurance Subsidies
With Republicans holding majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, one might expect smoother passage of spending bills. However, Democrats’ successful blockade of these bills highlights the deep partisan divide in Washington.
The standoff centers on extending health insurance subsidies, which are set to expire at year-end. Despite arguments that these extensions would worsen federal budget deficits, approximately 73% of those surveyed in the Reuters/Ipsos poll supported maintaining these subsidies.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is the current approval rating for Donald Trump?
- Q: Why has Trump’s approval rating dropped?
- Q: How have Americans reacted to the partial government shutdown?
- Q: What is causing the partisan divide over government spending and health insurance subsidies?
A: Trump’s presidential approval rating has fallen to 40%, tying the lowest point of his presidency, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
A: The decline in Trump’s approval rating is largely due to growing dissatisfaction with his handling of rising living costs in the US.
A: Most Americans expressed only mild concern about the partial government shutdown, with 29% indifferent or happy and 50% frustrated. The majority reported little to no personal impact from the shutdown.
A: Despite Republicans’ majority in Congress, Democrats have blocked spending bills in the Senate due to their demand for extending health insurance subsidies set to expire by year-end. Approximately 73% of those surveyed support maintaining these subsidies.
