President Trump's approval & our view of the direction of the country
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: 43% approval and 53% disapproval: -10%
It’s increasingly clear that the non-stop onslaught to try to smear and take out President Trump isn't having much of an effect. In a week dominated by the latest anti-Trump book release, Fear, to the NY Times publishing unsourced material smearing the President, his approval rating didn’t change despite numerous new polls being released. Also notable is that his rating is 12% higher than its low from about 13 months ago. Unable to smear the President for the best economy in a generation, record low minority unemployment, record low unemployment for women, biggest increase in net take home pay in 32 years, etc. This is how media and allies on the left operate and people seem to see through it or embrace it based on their personal political desires.
We also continue to see that in sampling the president continues to fare best with the most politically engaged Americans.
- With adult only samples his rating over the past week averaged: 41%
- Registered voters: 43%
- Likely voters: 45%
For comparison's sake President Obama's average approval rating on this date in his second year in office was 45% - two points higher than President Trump's rating but with likely voters 44% which is one point lower than President Trump.
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: 41%
- Wrong Track: 54%
- Net: -13%
Change: +16% under Trump & +3% over a week ago
Back in the real world this week we’re seeing a bounce back in our collective optimism with substantially higher optimism than under the prior administration. It’s a classic case of whether you prefer actions or words.
Until next week...