Poll Shows Discontent with Government Shutdown Approach
As the government shutdown stretches into its sixth day, a majority of Americans express dissatisfaction with the way it’s being managed, cutting across party lines.
A recent CBS News poll indicates that 52% of respondents disapprove of the handling of the shutdown by President Trump and the Republicans, while 49% disapprove of the Democrats’ approach.
When asked about who to blame, 39% pointed fingers at Trump and the Republicans. Meanwhile, 30% criticized the Democrats, and 31% felt both parties share the blame.
There’s a prevailing sentiment among Americans that Democrats lack strength, with many describing the party as “weak,” while 59% view Republicans as “extreme,” and half consider them “strong.”
Concerns about economic conditions are also on the rise. A significant portion of the public, around 64%, believes that Trump’s policies are contributing to increased food prices, with only 11% feeling that prices are actually decreasing.
Many worry that the shutdown could further harm the economy. Approximately 750,000 federal employees were left without pay during this period.
In a somewhat split view, 48% of Democrats said the shutdown was justified. Congressional Democrats opposed a temporary funding measure primarily because it didn’t continue funding for affordable care, impacting Medicaid due to a previous significant bill that restructured funding.
Trump’s disapproval rating stands at 58% according to the poll.
Public sentiment is also against Trump’s decision to send the National Guard to various cities, with 61% of those surveyed believing it’s inappropriate. Yet, there’s a clear divide along party lines: 79% of Republicans support the deployment, while 92% of Democrats and 70% of independents oppose it.
On Sunday, U.S. District Judge Karin temporarily blocked Trump’s plans to send the National Guard to Portland.
The CBS News survey was conducted between October 1 and 3, involving 2,441 U.S. adults and carrying a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
