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%
President Trump’s net approval rating dipped by two points this week, driven mostly by higher disapproval ratings, rather than many fewer people no longer approving of his performance. In other words, Americans are that much stronger in their overall opinion of him one way or another (as though people weren’t already).
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: 48%
For comparison's sake President Obama's average approval rating on this date in his second year in office was 46% - three points higher than President Trump's rating but with likely voters – 44% which is four points lower than President Trump’s.
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: 37%
- Wrong Track: 54%
- Net: -17%
Change: +12% under Trump & -5% over a week ago
Like the President’s approval rating we saw a dip in optimism this week. It’s instructive that with the best economy in a generation and record prosperity in our country currently we're seeing a five-point dip in a week. Unfortunately, it likely reflects the impact of the political tension that’s manufactured and preyed upon by political opportunists and those in the media fanning the flames.
Until next week...