Two-thirds of Americans think Trump behaved irresponsibly after his coronavirus diagnosis


A large majority of Americans don't trust the White House or President Trump right now.
After Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, 63 percent of Americans say he acted irresponsibly when handling his risk of infecting the people around him, a CNN poll released Monday found. What's more, 69 percent of Americans say they only believe some of what the White House is saying about Trump's health — or none of it at all.
Trump tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, and since then, several White House staffers, Republican senators, and other people who were around him tested positive as well. Trump also was criticized for leaving the hospital for a motorcade ride to wave to supporters, which likely put the Secret Service agents driving him at risk. Just a third of Americans said Trump behaved responsibly after his diagnosis, while a whopping 63 percent disagreed.
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.
Since then, Trump's team has been evasive when it comes to the president's health, refusing to share details of his lung scans and even his last negative COVID-19 test. Only 12 percent of respondents said they believe almost all of what they've heard from the White House, while 28 percent say they believe none of it at all. And while Trump's team has suggested catching coronavirus gave him some kind of special insight into fighting the disease, 63 percent of respondents said they think it's unlikely Trump's infection will change how he's handling the pandemic.
CNN and SSRS surveyed 1,205 respondents via landline and cell phone from Oct. 2–4, with a 3.3. percentage point margin of error.
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
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
How will Wall Street react to the Trump-Powell showdown?
Today's Big Question 'Market turmoil' seems likely
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Google ruled a monopoly over ad tech dominance
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the ruling as a 'landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador's CECOT prison becomes Washington's go-to destination
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republicans and Democrats alike are clamoring for access to the Trump administration's extrajudicial deportation camp — for very different reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
China accuses NSA of Winter Games cyberattacks
speed read China alleges that the U.S. National Security Agency launched cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Russian strike kills dozens in Ukraine
Speed Read The Sumy ballistic missile strike was Russia's deadliest attack on civilians this year
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
South Korea court removes impeached president
Speed Read The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law in December
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Myanmar quake deaths rise as survivor search intensifies
speed read The magnitude-7.7 earthquake in central Myanmar has killed a documented 2,000 people so far, and left scores more trapped beneath rubble
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
Israel detains director after West Bank settler clash
speed read The director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' was arrested and beaten
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Turkey arrests Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan rival
Speed Read Protests erupted in Turkey after authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
By Peter Weber, The Week US