February 23, 2017
Who do you trust? President Donald Trump? Or the media?
According to a just-released Quinnipiac University poll, 52 percent of voters trust the media compared to only 37 percent say they trust Trump more to "tell you the truth about important issues."
But there is a huge divide along party lines.
Among Democrat voters, 86 percent said they were more inclined to believe the media than the president.
Republican voters, by a 78 percent score, said that Trump tells them the truth, not the media, according to the poll.
Level of education and race also divided trust levels, with 55 percent of college-educated white voters trusting the media, while 55 percent of non-college-educated whites favoring Trump.
Nonwhite voters, in sharp contrast to non-college-educated white voters, trust the media at a 68 percent rate on important issues.
The same survey found only 38 percent of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, while 55 percent disapprove.
That’s the worst Trump's fared since taking office in January.
"President Donald Trump's popularity is sinking like a rock," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"He gets slammed on honesty, empathy, level headedness and the ability to unite. And two of his strong points, leadership and intelligence, are sinking to new lows.
"This is a terrible survey one month in."
The poll also showed across the board disapproval of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, no matter the race or education levels of those polled.
In a related poll, Quinnipiac surveyed attitudes on topics dividing the country.
Voters by 54 percent approve "renegotiating major trade deals with other countries, even if it means paying more for the products you buy."
And 87 percent favor increasing federal spending for roads, mass transit and other infrastructure.
These are both policies favored by Trump.
But American voters oppose most of the other measures promoted by the president.
For instance, 51 percent are against restarting the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
The wall on the border with Mexico is opposed by 60 percent, rising to 65 percent if it is paid for by Americans.
Lowering taxes on the wealthy is opposed by 76 percent and lowering taxes on businesses is opposed by 50 percent.
And 63 percent oppose lifting regulations to combat climate change.
"While his base may be eating it up, a broad portion of the electorate is telling President Donald Trump there is a big difference between campaign bravado and an agenda that works for all Americans," Malloy said.
