President Donald Trump and his campaign team is banking on a good economy in order to help him to win re-election in 2020. Unfortunately for the president, his rosy outlook on the economic conditions in the U.S. is not shared by a majority of Americans.
Overall, about 38 percent of Americans give Trump a positive approval rating, while 56 percent disapprove of his time as president so far, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tuesday. The approval rating represents a six-point drop from where he stood in July of this year, when 44 percent gave him positive marks.
Much of the drop is likely attributable to a more skeptical view of the economy, and Trump’s handling of economic issues. Just 46 percent of Americans give him a positive approval rating on that issue, while 47 percent give him negative reviews.
In July, 51 percent approved of Trump’s job when it came to economic matters, while 42 percent disapproved.
President Trump's approval rating is 38 percent, down from 44 percent in July, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll. https://t.co/SYb90O8h5Y
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 10, 2019
Trade wars with China weigh heavily on the minds of respondents in the poll, with 56 percent saying they don’t like the way Trump is negotiating things with Beijing so far.
Overall, 60 percent of Americans believe a recession is inevitable within the next year, while 35 percent say the possibility is unlikely.
In terms of who might be to blame for a recession if it happens, it’s likely Trump would bear the brunt of it, based on what direction Americans feel Trump’s policies might lead us. Forty-three percent believe the president’s policies increase the chance of a recession, while only 16 percent believe they’re helping to stave off such an event. Thirty-four percent say they’ve made no difference.
On the trade wars specifically, 60 percent of Americans are concerned that the trade wars will raise prices on many household goods — a situation that, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, has already happened on some products.
Trump himself has been trying to say, through his social media channels, that any recession that does occur would not be his fault, but the fault of a media that’s out to get him.
“I view much of the media as simply an arm of the Democrat [sic] Party,” Trump wrote on Monday. “They are corrupt, and they are extremely upset at how well our Country is doing under MY leadership, including the Economy, where there is NO recession, much to the regret of the LameStream Media!”
Looks like Trump is angry his approval rating in the new Wash Post poll is down to a pathetic 38%. Trump earned this with his horrible policies, corruption and non-stop lying!! Hope Trump does NOT change one bit before November 2020!! https://t.co/pp4xt5BUo3 pic.twitter.com/wfEHAzjxjZ
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) September 10, 2019
On Tuesday, after the poll was released, Trump suggested the polling from the Washington Post was “the worst and most inaccurate poll of any taken prior to the 2016 Election,” stating that his lawyers protested a poll they had put out just before election day. As journalist Dean Obeidallah pointed out, the Washington Post/ABC News poll is actually one of the most accurate in the country.
“Trump earned [these polling numbers] with his horrible policies, corruption and non-stop lying,” Obeidallah added.