Most Americans Blame Trump for Government Shutdown

More than half disagree with the president’s assertion that the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as “a crisis”.

Vancouver, BC [January 22, 2018] – A majority of Americans think the current president deserves the blame for the partial shutdown of the federal government, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Americans, 57% of United States residents think Donald Trump is more responsible for the situation, while one third (33%) blame the Democrats in Congress.

Trump’s approval rating stands at 38% this month, while 58% of Americans disapprove of his performance as president.

While a sizable majority of self-described Republicans (74%) agree with the way Trump is handling his duties, the proportion is decidedly lower among Independents (36%) and Democrats (6%).

The survey was conducted after President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office to discuss border security. Most Americans (54%) disagree with his assertion that the situation in the U.S.-Mexico border is “a crisis”.

Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the entire U.S.-Mexico border is endorsed by two-in-five Americans (40%), while a majority (55%) is opposed. Republicans are more likely to agree with the president’s plan (76%) than Independents (38%) and Democrats (7%).

Almost three-in-five Americans (59%) think it would be unreasonable for President Trump to declare a “national emergency” over the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from January 11 to January 13, 2019, among 1,000 American adults. The data has been statistically weighted according to U.S. census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our full data set here and download the press release here. 

Photo Credit: Carol M. Highsmith

For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca