August 23, 2017 – President Donald Trump is doing more to divide the country, 62 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say he is doing more to unite the country, his worst score on this question, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
President Trump gets a negative 35 – 59 percent overall job approval rating, down from a negative 39 – 57 percent rating in an August 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Every party, gender, education, age and racial group disapproves except Republicans, who approve 77 – 14 percent; white voters with no college, approving 52 – 40 percent, and white men, who approve by a narrow 50 – 46 percent.
American voters disapprove 60 – 32 percent of Trump’s response to the events in Charlottesville.
President Trump’s decisions and behavior have encouraged white supremacist groups, 59 percent of voters say, as 3 percent say he has discouraged these groups and 35 percent say he has had no impact on them.
There is too much prejudice in the nation today, 55 percent of American voters say, while 40 percent say there is too much political correctness, the widest margin for prejudice since the question first was asked in June 2016.
Prejudice against minority groups is a “very serious” problem, 50 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say it is “somewhat serious,” a new high for these numbers.
Since Trump’s election, “the level of hatred and prejudice in the U.S. has increased,” 65 percent of voters say, while 2 percent say it has decreased and 32 percent say it hasn’t changed.
“One word – Charlottesville.
“Elected on his strength as a deal-maker, but now overwhelmingly considered a divider, President Donald Trump has a big negative job approval rating and low scores on handling racial issues,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
Voters disapprove 63 – 31 percent, including 56 – 38 percent among white voters, of the way Trump is handling race relations. The president does not care about issues facing minority groups, voters say 60 – 37 percent, including 52 – 45 percent among white voters.
A total of 62 percent of American voters say prejudice against Jewish people is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem.
Voters oppose 50 – 39 percent removing Confederate statues from public spaces. White voters oppose removal 57 – 33 percent, with black voters supporting removal 67 – 21 percent. Among Hispanic voters, 47 percent support removing statues, with 42 percent opposed.
White supremacist groups pose a threat to the U.S., voters say 64 – 34 percent.
President Trump does not provide the U.S. with moral leadership, American voters say 62 – 35 percent. Voter opinions of most Trump qualities remain low:
61 – 36 percent that he is not honest;
61 – 37 percent that he does not have good leadership skills;
57 – 40 percent that he does not care about average Americans;
68 – 29 percent that he is not level headed;
59 – 38 percent that he is a strong person;
55 – 43 percent that he is intelligent;
63 – 34 percent that he does not share their values.
Trump, the Media and Tweeting
American voters disapprove 55 – 40 percent of the way the news media covers Trump, and disapprove 62 – 35 percent of the way the president talks about the media. Voters trust the media more than Trump 54 – 36 percent “to tell you the truth about important issues.”
Stop tweeting from your personal account, voters tell the president 69 – 28 percent.
In an open-ended question, allowing for any answers, 64 voters (not percent) say “strong” is the first word that comes to mind when they think of Trump. “Idiot” is the first word for 59 voters. Another 58 voters say “incompetent,” as 50 say “liar” and 49 say “president.”
From August 17 – 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,514 voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys nationwide, and in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.