Why are US voters backing Donald Trump over coronavirus?
President’s approval ratings soaring despite botched attempt to stem the pandemic
Donald Trump’s approval ratings have soared in recent weeks despite widespread criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a series of new polls have found.
Gallup polling shows 60% of Americans approve of the president’s handling of the crisis versus 34% who disapprove, with another poll from Ipsos revealing a narrower but still positive margin.
Trump’s overall approval ratings have also seen an uptick in the last two weeks with FiveThirtyEight’s tracker rising 2 points and Gallup up to 49%, the highest of his presidency.
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.
“The numbers have proved head-scratching for the president’s critics and political opponents who have castigated his handling of the pandemic and loose rhetoric,” reports The Daily Telegraph.
America is fast emerging as a battlefront against the virus, due in large part say Trump’s critics to his slow response to the crisis. The number of cases now exceeds 70,000, while US stock markets have plummeted and unemployment surges as the economy goes into lockdown.
Yet still support for the president grows.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Speaking to psephologists “well versed in the numbers and Republican political insiders who know Trump”, The Telegraph says the explanation behind the emerging pattern in the polls “is a combination of historic trends, changes in behaviour, clever use of the media and a frightened nation”.
Gallup says “historically, presidential job approval has increased when the nation is under threat” citing Franklin D. Roosevelt after Pearl Harbour and George W. Bush after 9/11.
“During these rallies, independents and supporters of the opposing party to the president typically show heightened support for the commander in chief,” the polling firm adds.
“Yet, Trump hasn’t behaved like a traditional president in a crisis moment. At times, he’s acted more like our national id, telling Americans what they may want to hear, even if those claims are false or are considered downright dangerous by public health experts,” says political reporter Lisa Lerer in the New York Times.
Whether he is able to stick to his promise to have America back up and open for business by Easter “may not matter, at least not politically” Lerer adds. “The polling shows that despite Trump’s dubious comments, Americans blame the virus rather than the president for our current situation. At least, for now.”
CNN says “the average person seems to broadly believe that Trump is doing the best that he can in a very difficult circumstance. And that what he says on a daily basis matters less than the fact he is out there saying it, and assuring the country that this will all be over soon”.
Despite the mini surge, Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told USA Today that the rally is actually deceptive and “extraordinarily weak compared to other modern presidents”.
“Incredibly, Trump still hasn’t crossed the 50% mark in job approval – a much more important measure than public views about Trump’s handling of the pandemic. Why is that? Americans either love Trump or hate Trump, and the vast majority will never change their evaluation.”
With America split down the middle, the outcome in November’s presidential election depends in large part on how long the coronavirus lockdown lasts and whether the economy, the strength of which the president has made “his political calling card”, according to the BBC, rebounds in time.
“As his popularity is mostly a function of his office, the president can afford to sit tight, defer to public health wisdom and savour the free media coverage until November. At worst, he would be following the course of almost every other world leader,” says Janan Ganesh in the Financial Times.
“Instead, he seems set on the most extraordinary gamble with his electoral prospects, and the health of his nation,” Ganesh adds.
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
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 race
Speed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Long Covid: study shows damage to brain's 'control centre'
The Explainer Research could help scientists understand long-term effects of Covid-19 as well as conditions such as MS and dementia
By The Week UK Published
-
FDA OKs new Covid vaccine, available soon
Speed read The CDC recommends the new booster to combat the widely-circulating KP.2 strain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mpox: how dangerous is new health emergency?
Today's Big Question Spread of potentially deadly sub-variant more like early days of HIV than Covid, say scientists
By The Week UK Published
-
What is POTS and why is it more common now?
The explainer The condition affecting young women
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Brexit, Matt Hancock and black swans: five takeaways from Covid inquiry report
The Explainer UK was 'unprepared' for pandemic and government 'failed' citizens with flawed response, says damning report
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Should masks be here to stay?
Talking Points New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a mask ban. Here's why she wants one — and why it may not make sense.
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Covid might be to blame for an uptick in rare cancers
The explainer The virus may be making us more susceptible to certain cancers
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published