A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, released Wednesday, indicates that a significant majority of Americans believe President Trump is trying to gain more power than past presidents. According to the survey, 69% of respondents think he is seeking to exert greater authority, with nearly half, 49%, expressing that this is detrimental to the country. In contrast, 21% believe he is using a similar level of power, and just 7% were unsure.
Interestingly, only 2% of those surveyed feel that Trump is exercising less authority compared to his predecessors.
The survey was carried out more than eight months into Trump’s second term. Recently, he attempted to deploy the National Guard to three states and Washington, D.C. Earlier in the year, his administration initiated large-scale layoffs via the Department of Government Efficiency and suggested merging federal agencies. The federal workforce had already been reduced by approximately 8.7% as of late September. The White House has also hinted at potential layoffs during budgetary disputes, raising concerns about furloughed federal workers not receiving back pay.
Responses about Trump’s governance were mixed; 39% of adults in the survey felt he has improved government operations, while 59% disagreed. Furthermore, 38% believed he runs a transparent administration, whereas 60% did not share this view.
On a notable day for Trump, with former FBI director James Comey pleading not guilty to charges, Pew found that 66% of people think the president uses his position to retaliate against those he dislikes. In contrast, about one-third disagreed with that sentiment. Prominent figures like Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James have suggested Trump should face prosecution.
Additionally, 61% of survey participants accused Trump of improperly using his office to benefit family and friends; 38% did not think this was true.
Another recent Pew survey highlighted a growing pessimism regarding the economy, where nearly three-quarters rated the economic situation as poor or fair. A corresponding Fannie Mae survey noted that around 70% of Americans feel the economy is headed in the wrong direction.
As of Tuesday, Trump’s approval rating was reported at around 44% based on data from Decision Desk HQ. The Pew Research Center conducted its survey from September 22 to September 28, engaging 3,455 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 1.9 percentage points.
