Reuters/Ipsos Data: Core Political (04/10/2019)

Washington, D.C. - Despite the warmer weather across much of the nation, Americans still have a wintry outlook about the future of the country. Around a third of Americans (32%) believe the country is heading in the right direction, a similar proportion as last week (35%). Sixty-seven percent of Republicans think positively about the future of the country, while only 13% of Democrats have an optimistic outlook. A quarter of Independents (24%) say the country is heading in the right direction.  

Two in five Americans (39%) approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as president (compared to 42% last week). President Trump’s support is primarily driven by his own Republican base, where 84% approve of his job performance. Democrats (11%) and Independents (34%) are much less likely to approve of President Trump.

Americans are split when it comes to the way President Trump is handling certain issues: around half of Americans approve of the way the president is handling employment and jobs (49%) and the US economy (48%). Americans are most critical of the way President Trump is handling corruption and the environment (35% each).  

Americans continue to be critical of the way Congress is handling its job – just 25% of Americans approve. Individual representatives continue to receive much more support with nearly half of Americans (44%) approving of their congressperson. Democrats (47%) and Republicans (50%) are far more likely to approve of their representative than Independents (32%).  

Americans think that healthcare is the most important problem facing the country (21%), followed by immigration (17%) and the economy generally (10%). More Democrats continue to see healthcare (30%) as a more important issue than immigration (7%), while Republicans view immigration (34%) as the most important problem, compared to healthcare at 13%. Independents care most about healthcare (17%), immigration (13%) and the economy generally (11%).

About this Study

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Thomson Reuters between April 5-9, 2019. For the survey, a sample of 2,667 Americans, including 1,161 Democrats, 880 Republicans, and 385 Independents ages 18+ were interviewed online. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points for all adults, 3.3 percentage points for Democrats, 3.8 percentage points for Republicans, and 5.7 percentage points for Independents. For more information about credibility intervals, please see the appendix.

The data were weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education, and ethnicity. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Figures marked by an asterisk (*) indicate a percentage value of greater than zero but less than one half of one per cent. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. To see more information on this and other Reuters/Ipsos polls, please visit http://polling.reuters.com/.

For more information on this news release please contact:

Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2016
[email protected]

Chris Jackson
Vice President, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2011
[email protected]

About Ipsos Public Affairs

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. We conduct strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research.

Ipsos has media partnerships with the most prestigious news organizations around the world. In Canada, the U.S., UK, and internationally, Ipsos Public Affairs is the media polling supplier to Reuters News, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research company. We provide boutique-style customer service and work closely with our clients, while also undertaking global research.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.

With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,749.5 million in 2018.