Only 3% of Americans Say Trump Has Discouraged White Supremacist Groups
On the heels of his political campaign style rally held Tuesday evening in Phoenix, during which an obviously angry and bitter President Trump attacked the media and his opponents, a new poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University shows more than six out of 10 voters (62%) say Trump is diving the nation. Just three in ten (31%) say he is doing more to unite the country.
Polling results show that 59 percent of voters say that the president has encouraged white supremacist groups, while only three percent say he has discouraged these groups and 35 percent say he has had no impact on them with his public statements. Asked if the white supremacist groups pose a threat to the U.S., 64 percent agreed while 34 percent disagreed.
According to the Quinnipiac researchers, six out of 10 American voters also disapprove of Trump’s response to the events in Charlottesville, with a meager 32 percent approving and saying his handling of those events was correct.
Many also believe that Trump’s public statements and behavior during and after the two press conferences, in which he addressed Charlottesville and the ongoing debate over removal of Confederate statues and memorials, has not only encouraged but given cover to white supremacists.
Many Americans (65 percent) also feel that Trump has elevated the level of hatred and prejudice in the country since his election. 32 percent however disagree, saying no change at all. On the question of whether or not there is too much prejudice in the nation today, 55 percent of respondents say yes while 40 percent say there is too much political correctness, the widest margin for prejudice since the question first was asked in June 2016 according to the university. The university’s poll also found “prejudice against minority groups is a “very serious” problem, 50 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say it is “somewhat serious,” a new high for these numbers.â€
On other questions the poll found:
“President Trump does not provide the U.S. with moral leadership, American voters say 62 – 35 percent. Voter opinions of most Trump qualities remain low:â€
- 61 – 36 percent that he is not honest;
- 61 – 37 percent that he does not have good leadership skills;
- 57 – 40 percent that he does not care about average Americans;
- 68 – 29 percent that he is not level headed;
- 59 – 38 percent that he is a strong person;
- 55 – 43 percent that he is intelligent;
- 63 – 34 percent that he does not share their values.
The president’s job approval rating remains negative with only 35 percent of voters stating that they approve of the way he is handling his office while 59 percent of voter disapprove. These numbers reflect a downward spiral from 39 – 57 percent rating in an August 17 survey. Every party, gender, education, age and racial group disapproves except Republicans, who approve 77 – 14 percent; white voters with no college, approving 52 – 40 percent, and white men, who approve by a narrow 50 – 46 percent.
On questions related to media coverage of the president, American voters disapprove 55 – 40 percent of the way the news media covers Trump, and disapprove 62 – 35 percent of the way the president talks about the media. Contrary to Trump’s claims, voters trust the media more than Trump, 54 – 36 percent, “to tell you the truth about important issues.”
Brody Levesque is the Chief Political Correspondent for The New Civil Rights Movement.
You may contact Brody at Brody.Levesque@thenewcivilrightsmovement.com
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Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license
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