Are we with him or against him on the wall? President Trump's ratings...
Bottom Line: This is a weekly story to get a reality/temperature check regarding what's really going on with public opinion of the President and our view of the direction of the country. First here's the high point, low point and current ratings for President Trump...
- Trump's lowest ratings: 37% approval and 59% disapproval: -22% (8/4/17)
- Trump highest approval ratings 45% approval and 43% disapproval (1/27/17): +2%
- Trump's current ratings: 44% approval and 53% disapproval: -9%
There are times when the most telling change is no change at all. This is one of those times. Here we are entering the longest partial government shutdown in US history with in excess of 90% of the news coverage being negative for President Trump and his approval rating is exactly where it was a week ago on average, and it remains a point higher than a month ago before it started.
This likely illustrates multiple points I’ve often illustrated. First, how unimpacted the average American is with 19% of the federal government not operational. Second, how ineffectual mainstream news media really is in their effort to attempt to take down President Trump. Mainstream news media clearly doesn’t hold influence over much of the country and that isn’t changing. This also provides plenty of ammunition for the President to hold strong to a cornerstone position he ran on and was elected to enact... border security with the wall being the prominent piece of the puzzle.
Also, as has been the case throughout his term thus far, the more informed and engaged someone is politically – the more likely they are to approve of President Trump.
- With adult only samples his rating over the past week averaged: 40%
- Registered voters: 44%
- Likely voters: 47%
Looking at the direction of the country this week...
Where we stood on Inauguration Day:
- Right Direction: 30%
- Wrong Track: 59%
- Net: -29%
Today:
- Right Direction: 33%
- Wrong Track: 57%
- Net: -24%
Change: +5% under Trump
This is where we’re seeing the negativity wash through with the political noise of the day and ongoing standoff. Though even in the mist of the longest government shutdown in US history – we're more optimistic than we were during the Obama administration.