Poll: Majority of Americans think Trump hasn't been tough enough on Saudi Arabia
President Trump's response to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi isn't earning high marks from the American public.
A new poll from Axios/SurveyMonkey found that 56 percent of Americans feel Trump hasn't been tough enough on Saudi Arabia following the murder of Khashoggi, who was killed after visiting the Saudi consulate in Turkey earlier this month. In the aftermath, Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Saudi Arabia is an ally to the United States and has appeared willing to believe the Saudi government's shifting stories about how Khashoggi died, and claims that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no involvement. In the poll, 32 percent of respondents said Trump's reaction has been about right, while 5 percent said he's been too tough.
The poll's results mainly fall along partisan lines, although Democrats are more united than Republicans. Seventy-eight percent of Democrats think Trump has not been tough enough, while 56 percent of Republicans think his response has been about right; 37 percent of Republicans think that he has not been tough enough. Among Independents, 55 percent think Trump's response has been too soft.
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.
Americans also don't seem to be behind the idea that Saudi Arabia is a friend of the U.S.: Just 10 percent of respondents said Saudi Arabia is an ally, while 35 percent said it's "friendly, but not an ally," 37 percent said it's "unfriendly," and 12 percent said it's an "enemy." Despite all of this, the poll does show that Trump's overall approval rating on foreign policy issues has gone up four points since August to 45 percent.
This poll was conducted by speaking to 3,919 U.S. adults online from Oct. 17 through Oct. 23. The margin of error is +/- 2.5 percentage points. Read the full results at Axios.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Palazzo Durazzo Suites in Genoa: a palatial gem in northern Italy
The Week Recommends Live your Italian dream in this astonishing and recently restored palace in the heart of the city
By Nick Hendry Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published