Donald Trump, President-elect of U.S.
Americans have little confidence in President-elect Donald Trump’s abilities to handle his presidential duties, a Gallup poll released by TIME, shows.
As stated by the poll, less than half of the Americans trust Trump to prevent major scandals, handle an international crisis, or use military force responsibly.
Gallup poll shows that Americans have significantly less faith in Trump than they had in his predecessors.
Only 44 per cent stated they were confident Trump would avoid major scandals in his administration, 46 per cent stated they are confident in Trump’s ability to handle an international crisis, and 47 per cent stated they trust him to use military force wisely.
When the same questions were asked at the start of outgoing President Barack Obama’s and former Presidents George W. Bush’s and Bill Clinton’s terms, roughly three-quarters of Americans stated they had confidence in the newly elected President in these areas.
When compared with Gallup’s averages of confidence polling in his predecessors, Trump comes up short.
The incoming president has a 32-point confidence deficit in his ability to avoid scandals in his administration, a 29-point deficit in his ability to use military force well and a 28-point deficit in his ability to manage the executive branch.
Most Americans (60 per cent) believe Trump will be able to get things done with Congress, but even there he comes up far behind his predecessors — the average number of Americans with confidence in Obama, Bush and Clinton to work with Congress was 82 per cent.
The data also reflects a more polarised America than Obama or Bush faced when they came into office.
On average, only 21 per cent of Democrats have confidence in Trump’s ability to handle the various responsibilities of the presidency.
By contrast, roughly two-thirds of Republicans had some confidence in Obama and the same was true for Bush and Democrats.
But Trump even has a confidence deficit among members of his own party.
Only 84 per cent of Republicans have confidence in his abilities as President, compared with 94 per cent of Democrats who trusted Obama and 95 per cent of Republicans who had faith in Bush.
The poll’s sample included 1,028 adults and had a margin of error of +/- 4 per cent.
President Muhammadu Buhari welcome the Envoy Republic of Niger/Minister of Petroleum, Mr Foumakoye Gado accompanied by the Nigerien Ambassador to Nigeria, Mansour Maman Hagj Daddo at the State House in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari receives a letter from the Envoy Republic of Niger /Minister of Petroleum, Mr Foumakoye Gado during an audience at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 29 2016
Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Buka Abba Ibrahim, President Muhammadu Buhari, Envoy Republic of Niger Minister of Petroleum, Mr Foumakoye Gado and Niger Ambassador to Nigeria, Mansour Maman Hagj Daddo during an audience with the envoy at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 29 2016
R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Envoy Republic of Niger Minister of Petroleum, Mr Foumakoye Gado and Niger Ambassador to Nigeria, Mansour Maman Hagj Daddo during an audience with the envoy at the State House in Abuja.