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A2 us news
Friday 23 august 2019
AP-NORC poll: 62% disapprove of how Trump’s handling his job

By STEVE PEOPLES and HAN- Still, several — Harry Tru-
NAH FINGERHUT man, Richard Nixon, Jimmy
Associated Press Carter, George H.W. Bush
NEW YORK (AP) — About and George W. Bush —
6 in 10 Americans disap- logged ratings worse than
prove of President Donald Trump’s lowest rating so far
Trump’s overall job perfor- at some point during their
mance, according to a time in office.
new poll released Thursday Trump’s poor grades in the
by The Associated Press- AP-NORC poll extend to his
NORC Center for Public handling of several key is-
Affairs Research, which sues: immigration, health
finds some support for the care, foreign policy and
president’s handling of the guns. Views of the Repub-
U.S. economy but gives him lican president’s handling
weak marks on other major of the economy remain a
issues. relative bright spot despite
Just 36% of Americans ap- fears of a potential reces-
prove of the way Trump is sion, but at least 60% of
handling his job as presi- Americans disapprove of
dent; 62% disapprove. his performance on other
The numbers may be ugly issues. The consistency sug- President Donald Trump waves to the crowd after arriving on Air Force One at Louisville International
for a first-term president fac- gests the president’s weak Airport in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019.
ing reelection in 14 months, standing with the Ameri- Associated Press
but they are remarkably can people is calcified af- action in the immediate af- than conservative ones to Republicans approve of his
consistent. Trump’s approv- ter two years of near-con- termath of the attacks but express approval, 64% ver- economic leadership.
al rating has never dipped stant political crises and di- has since shifted back and sus 74%. “He’s kind of a bully, but
below 32% or risen above visive rhetoric at the White forth on whether to push Beyond guns, Trump re- I’ve seen some improve-
42% in AP-NORC polls since House. for stronger background mains overwhelmingly pop- ment,” said Mandi Mitch-
he took office. The new survey was con- checks on people seeking ular within his own party. ell, a 38-year-old regis-
No other president has ducted shortly after back- to buy guns. Nearly 8 in 10 Republicans tered Democrat from North
stayed within so narrow a to-back mass shootings in “He does whatever’s po- approve of Trump’s over- Carolina. “Our unemploy-
band. Since Gallup began Texas and Ohio left dozens litically expedient. He’s aw- all job performance, while ment rate has definitely
measuring presidential ap- dead and renewed calls ful,” said 60-year-old Rob- 20% disapprove. As has dropped.”
proval, Trump is the only from Americans for answers ert Saunders, a retired po- been the case for his en- Mitchell, who is studying for
president whose rating has from their elected officials. lice officer from New Jersey tire presidency, Democrats her doctoral degree, said
never been above 50%. Trump pledged immediate who’s not registered with overwhelmingly oppose his she didn’t vote for Trump in
either major political party leadership: 94% of Demo- 2016 but might in 2020.
and vowed not to vote for crats disapprove in the “I’m not going to be too
Trump in 2020. new survey. hard on him,” she said. “I
According to the poll, 36% Independents remain de- just think he doesn’t ad-
approve of Trump on gun cidedly low on Trump as dress America properly.”
policy, while 61% disap- well, with about two-thirds Amid regular distractions
prove, numbers that mirror disapproving of Trump’s from the president’s social
his broader approval rat- performance. media feed, Trump’s team
ing. Significantly more Ameri- has worked to highlight
In response to the shootings, cans approve of Trump’s rising retail sales and the
Trump said that he would handling of the economy, solid labor market with its
pursue policy options with although even on that is- 3.7% unemployment rate
Senate Majority Leader sue he remains slightly un- as sources of strength. The
Mitch McConnell and that derwater: 46% approve U.S. economy appears to
he would like to see “very and 51% disapprove of his be showing vulnerabilities
meaningful background performance. after more than 10 years
checks.” Earlier this week, Trump’s current economic of growth, however. Fac-
however, Trump said the rating represents a 5 per- tory output has fallen and
U.S. already has significant- centage point drop from consumer confidence
ly strict background checks the same time last year, has waned as Trump has
in place and that many of but for a president who ramped up his trade fight
his supporters are gun own- has struggled to win over a with China.
ers. On Wednesday, how- majority of American vot- Trump rattled the stock and
ever, he again backed ers on any issue, the econ- bond markets this month
tighter background checks omy represents a relative when he announced plans
while speaking to reporters strength. to put a 10% tax on $300
at the White House. Even some Democrats ap- billion worth of Chinese
Seven in 10 Republicans ex- prove: Just 5% of Demo- imports. The market reac-
press approval of Trump’s crats approve of his job per- tion suggested a recession
handling of gun policy in formance overall, but 16% might be on the horizon
the new poll, among his approve of his handling of and led Trump to delay
lowest ratings from the the economy. Indepen- some of the tariffs that
GOP. Self-identified mod- dents are closely divided were scheduled to begin in
erate and liberal Republi- — 44% approve and 47% September, though many
cans were slightly less likely disapprove — while 86% of others remain.q