2017 US Politics - Final Quarter of President Trump’s First 100 Days (April 5)
Listen to The Point Being, a podcast from the Ipsos Polling Team, where Chris Jackson and Erin Morris discuss this week’s numbers.
Over half of Americans (52%) believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, with little change since last week and only a 7-point drop from the first week of Trump’s administration (59%). Democrats continue to be predominantly pessimistic about the state of the country, with 72% believing the country is on the wrong track. Republicans are slightly more split, with a majority more confident, believing America is heading in the right direction (55%). Most significantly, Independents are more confident in the country this week (27%) than they were when Trump took office (13%).
Following the failure of the American Healthcare Act early last week, Americans continue to prioritise healthcare as a main problem, as well as the economy and terrorism. Down only one percentage point, 15% of Americans believe healthcare is the most important problem facing the US. Notably, Republican prioritisation of terrorism has fallen, down 4 percentage points from last week (16%).
President Trump’s job approval is stagnant, now at 46% approval and 50% disapproval, with no significant change from last week. Despite a dramatic week focused on healthcare, Trump’s approval attributes are virtually unchanged. Even with the defeat of AHCA, his approval on healthcare remains at 42%, up from last week’s 41% approval. With his administration’s new focus on US tax policy, we may see improved numbers on his handling of taxation in the future.
Also dominating the news cycle, Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court hearing has not significantly changed his familiarity or favorability numbers. Among the fewer Americans that are aware of Gorsuch, opinion is divided between 49% who are favorable and 51% who are unfavorable.
