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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Poll Finds Republican Voters’ Support of Trump Eroding

Over 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the job, according to a Pew Research poll that also found support among his Republican base is eroding.

(CN) – Over 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the job, according to a Pew Research poll that also found support among his Republican base is eroding.

The poll, released Thursday, shows 63 percent of Americans disapprove of the president, compared with 32 percent who approve. Even a quarter of his supporters said they are unhappy with Trump’s personal style, with his use of Twitter being mentioned specifically as an example.

Unhappiness about his social media habits, personal style and allegations that campaign officials had improper contact with Russia during the 2016 presidential election have marred his approval numbers with Republican voters.

In the past, Trump has relied on his base for support. But a drop in his approval rating among Republican voters from 84 percent to 76 percent since February suggests that base, while politically active, is starting to shrink.

Meanwhile, allegations of sexual misconduct that has torpedoed the political careers of Sen. Al Franken and Rep. John Conyers has led some pundits like MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow to point out sexual abuse allegations leveled at the president.

As Republicans fight to pass tax reform legislation – and with the 2018 midterm elections on the horizon – the last thing they need is an unpopular president heading their party: historically, the opposition party fares well during such contests.

While his approval ratings have not reached the depths of President Richard Nixon’s 24 percent during the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, Trump has averaged a 38.6 percent approval rating during 11 months in office, the lowest average recorded by any president since modern polling began in the late 1930’s.

The results come about a month after Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort was charged by special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, in an investigation of Russian ties to the 2016 presidential election. While Manafort faces charges of money laundering before joining Trump’s campaign, questions persist about his contact with Russian officials during his time as campaign manager.

Additionally, Pew conducted the poll as Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying about his meetings with Russian officials in late 2016 and early 2017.

Pew researchers did not return a call made after hours for comment by press time.

Categories / Politics

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