Trump's public support: Better than Bush's and Obama's

TT

Published 19.24

 

US President Donald Trump in the White House this week. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP/TT

Tariff war, attacks on the media and attacks on "drug boats". Donald Trump's policies are perceived by many as controversial - but in large parts of the United States they seem to be working.

The president's popularity is higher than that of his predecessors George W Bush and Barack Obama at the same time.

Currently, 42.4 percent of Americans think that Trump is doing a good job, according to the compilation of current surveys conducted by Real Clear Politics. This compares with 40.1 percent for the Democrats' Obama and 41.5 percent for the Republicans' Bush at the same time in their second terms in office (2013 and 2005).

Passive action?

Getting a thumbs up from 42.4 percent of his countrymen is not a record, however. When Trump was sworn in in January, his approval rating was 50.5 percent, and as recently as mid-October, it was well above 45 percent.

This development is likely due to several factors: Trump has been criticized for inaction during the record-long shutdown of the US government, which lasted from October 1 to November 12. He was also abroad for much of the shutdown, which according to media reports irritates parts of his Maga movement, which wants the president to focus on his homeland.

Food and war

Add to that the fact that food prices remain high, which is likely reflected in the fact that the percentage of Americans who think the president is doing a good job with the economy is only 39.6 percent. Even fewer, 34.7 percent, think he is handling inflation well.

Donald Trump's stated ambition to receive the Nobel Peace Prize by brokering peace in a number of conflicts is being received with division at home: 48 percent think he is handling the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians well, while 35 percent like his handling of Russia and Ukraine.