Sorry, Trump. Most Americans Don’t Like You.

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From Jennifer Rubin to The Washington Post


It is easy to overstate the support President Trump has for his policies and conspiracy theories. His approval remains in the low-40s, but the percentage of Americans who buy into his positions and assertions is remarkably small. Trump and Fox News have their true believers, but beyond that minority of the population, the large majority of Americans understand he often spews nonsense or out-and-out lies. And, to boot, they really do not like him.

The latest Economist/YouGov national poll is instructive. When it comes to Russia, despite Trump’s bromance with President Vladimir Putin, only 14% consider Russia to be an ally or friendly; 32% say it is unfriendly, in addition to 34% who consider it an enemy. Trump may be confused about who interfered in the 2016 election, but the public is not. By a 50%-to-28% margin, Americans say Russia interfered in our election. Unlike Trump, who is convinced Ukraine meddled in our election, only 21% of Americans think so.

As for climate change, Trump does not have much support for his insistence it is a hoax. In the last 10 years, some think climate change has affected the world a great deal (42%) or at least some; only 18% say not at all. By a 51%-to-28% margin, Americans think we have not done enough to combat climate change. In the next 10 years, 66% of Americans think climate change will affect the world a great deal or some.

Trump’s approval (40% vs. 52%) remains underwater, as does his reelection number against an unnamed Democrat (40% vs. 50%). His personal ratings are horrendous. (A remarkable 51% do not even want him to run for reelection.) Only 31% like him as a person (and 18% say they like him a lot) or say he is honest and trustworthy. 54% say he does not have the temperament to be president. Only 19% say he is steady, while 60% say he is arrogant, and a strong plurality (44%) say he is a racist. Less than a quarter of Americans think he cares about people like him.

While the country remains evenly divided over removing Trump from office, there is a strong majority in favor of calling additional witnesses in the Senate (52% to 21%), and roughly a third think there will be a fair trial in the Senate.

In sum, depending upon precisely what question is asked, the percentage of cultists who support Trump whatever he says or does is generally less than 30%. Another 10% to 15% may occasionally take his side on positions or policies, but a remarkably large percentage of Americans do not think he is fit and want him gone.

Why, then, do the election polls, especially state polls, show a hypothetical general election to be rather tight? First, we should all keep in mind that the electoral college and the people in key swing states are generally less antagonistic toward Trump than the country as a whole. Second, Trump has already begun, and will continue, to demonize Democratic politicians as unpatriotic, crazy, socialist and a danger to his base’s way of life. He won in 2016 by making Hillary Clinton even more unlikable than he; he will try to do the same with whomever the Democrats choose to nominate in 2020. Third, unless and until a Democratic presidential nominee convinces voters he or she cares about them and is in sync with their values and basic political predilections, there will be a segment of “soft” independent and Republican voters who shy away from the Democrats.

The bottom line: Trump cannot win a majority of Americans’ respect and affection; he can only try to frighten them about their alternative. That’s why you can expect a vicious, anti-factual campaign that likely will make 2016 look like a picnic.