Poll: Voters are wary of bankers in Trump's Cabinet
Voters don't trust Donald Trump's decision to bring on bankers to his team or his assurances that he will keep his business interests separate while in the White House, a new Politico/Morning Consult poll found. In the poll, 35 percent of people said that they would be less likely to support a president's Cabinet nominee if he or she was a banker, and 39 percent said presidents ought to nominate fewer bankers.
Additionally, over half of Americans, 52 percent, said they believe Trump's "business interests and positions" will affect his decisions as president "a lot" with another 29 percent saying they would have "some" effect, although voters are more split on if that effect will be positive or negative.
Trump has nominated Steven Mnuchin to be treasury secretary, named Gary Cohn to be director of the National Economics Council, and tapped Steve Bannon as his senior adviser; Mnuchin and Bannon are formerly of Goldman Sachs, while Cohn is the investment bank's president. Additionally, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross was nominated by Trump for commerce secretary.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's intentions with his company have been murky, too. Trump canceled a press conference in which he was expected to discuss his plans for his business and has said that "my executives will run it with my children." Half of voters said Trump should "put all of his financial assets into a blind trust," 58 percent said he shouldn't maintain holdings in foreign countries, and 50 percent said he should give up maintaining his hotel chain.
The poll was conducted Dec. 8-11, reaching 2,000 voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent. Further analysis of the results can be read at Politico here and here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strike
Speed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published