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Saturday 16 december 2017

AP-NORC Poll: Tillerson retreats on offer of

Americans pessimistic about Trump unconditional N. Korea talks

By JULIE PACE Americans said the United tinues to talk about his pres- By MATT PENNINGTON talks, Trump did not an-
EMILY SWANSON States is heading in the right idency with lofty rhetorical Associated Press swer directly.
Associated Press direction, and 52 percent flourishes, declaring that WASHINGTON (AP) — “Well, we’re going to see
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- said the country is worse off his first months in office out- America’s top diplomat what happens with North
dent Donald Trump fre- since Trump became presi- shine those of his predeces- stepped back Friday from Korea. We have a lot of
quently casts his first year in dent — worrisome signs sors. But there’s no doubt his offer of unconditional support. There are a lot of
office as a string of success- both for the White House that 2017 has been devoid talks with North Korea, nations that agree with
es and campaign prom- and Republicans heading of any significant legislative telling world powers the us — almost everybody,”
ises fulfilled. But less than a into a midterm election accomplishments, though nuclear-armed nation Trump told reporters. He
quarter of Americans think year where control of Con- Republicans are urgently must earn the right to ne- credited China — which
Trump has made good gress will be at stake. trying to pass a sweeping gotiate with the United accounts for about 90
on the pledges he made Along with the 23 percent overhaul of the nation’s States. percent of North Korea’s
Secretary of State Rex external trade — with
Tillerson’s declaration helping on pressuring
before the U.N. Security North Korea, while Russia
Council marked a stun- was not.
ning reversal after he “We’d like to have Rus-
proposed discussions sia’s help — very impor-
with Pyongyang without tant,” said Trump. He
preconditions earlier this raised it in a Thursday
week. That overture was phone call with Russian
almost immediately re- President Vladimir Putin.
butted by White House On the issue of starting
officials. talks with North Korea,
Still, Tillerson had planned Tillerson’s tone was sig-
to reiterate his call at nificantly different from
a special U.N. ministe- three days earlier.
rial meeting on North Ko- On Tuesday, Tillerson said
rea at the council Friday at the Atlantic Council
morning. His prepared think tank in Washing-
remarks suggested only ton that “we are ready
that North Korea would to have the first meeting
have to undertake a sus- without preconditions.”
President Donald Trump listens people speak in support of Republican tax policy reform, during an tained halt in its threaten- He had also called it “un-
event in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Washington. Ameri- ing behavior before talks realistic” to expect North
cans are painting a pessimistic view of the country and President Donald Trump as 2017 comes to
a close. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs could begin. But Tillerson Korea to enter talks ready
Research. The survey shows less than a quarter of Americans think Trump has made good on the changed the script. to relinquish a weapons
pledges he made to voters while running for president. “North Korea must earn its of mass destruction pro-
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) way back to the table,” gram it invested so much
Tillerson told the foreign in developing, although
to voters while running for who think Trump has kept tax system. The package ministers. “The pressure that remained the ulti-
president, according to a his promises, another 30 would give generous tax campaign must and will mate goal. The White
new poll by the Associat- percent think he has tried cuts to corporations and continue until denucle- House quickly distanced
ed Press-NORC Center for and failed and 45 percent the wealthiest Americans, arization is achieved. We itself from Tillerson’s re-
Public Affairs Research. think he hasn’t kept them and more modest tax cuts will in the meantime keep marks. On Wednesday, a
Among Republicans, just at all. to low- and middle-income our channels of commu- National Security Council
half say Trump has kept his In a second AP-NORC poll families. “We’re very, very nication open.” spokesperson said North
promises, which included conducted this month, close to a historic legisla- The debate over offering Korea must not only first
vows to overhaul his pre- Trump’s job approval rat- tive victory, the likes of North Korea uncondition- refrain from provoca-
decessor’s health care law, ing sits at just 32 percent, which rarely has this coun- al talks reflects the differ- tions but take “sincere
withdraw the United States making him the least popu- try seen,” Trump said during ences within the Trump and meaningful actions
from a nuclear accord with lar first-year president on re- a meeting with lawmakers administration as it runs toward denucleariza-
Iran and invest millions in cord. A quarter of Republi- earlier this week. Republi- out of time to prevent tion” for talks to happen.
new projects to fix the na- cans say they’re among cans are banking on the North Korea from perfect- The spokesperson, who
tion’s aging infrastructure. those who disapprove of tax overhaul being enough ing a nuclear-tipped mis- was not authorized to be
None of those steps have the president. to carry them through next sile that can strike the U.S. quoted by name and re-
been taken. One relative bright spot year’s House and Senate mainland. President Don- quested anonymity, said
“Everything has stalled for Trump? The improving contests, elections that will ald Trump has vowed to that given North Korea’s
out,” said Mark Krowski, 37, economy. largely be a referendum prevent such capability, most recent missile test,
an independent from Mil- With a soaring stock market on Trump’s first two years with military action if nec- now was not the time for
waukee, Wisconsin, who and unemployment hover- in office and the GOP’s essary. talks. Tillerson and Trump
leans Republican but didn’t ing around 4 percent, 40 stewardship as the major- So far, U.S.-led sanctions have appeared to clash
vote for Trump last year. percent of Americans ap- ity party on Capitol Hill. But on North Korea and dip- before on North Korea,
As 2017 comes to a close, proved of Trump’s handling with the legislation rushed lomatic isolation haven’t amid questions about the
the majority of Americans of the economy. That’s through Congress and ne- compelled Kim Jong Un’s former ExxonMobil execu-
painted a broadly pessi- higher than the three in 10 gotiated largely in private, government to stop its nu- tive’s future as top diplo-
mistic view of Trump’s presi- Americans that approved Trump and lawmakers clear and missile tests, or mat. In October, Trump
dency, the nation’s politics of the president’s handling may have more work to to seek negotiations. said Tillerson was “wasting
and the overall direction of of health care, foreign poli- do to sell the public on its Asked Friday if he sup- his time” trying to negoti-
the country. Just three in 10 cy or taxes. Still, Trump con- benefits.q ported unconditional ate with the North.q