GALLUP: Trump, Congress Job Approval Mostly Steady Amid Shutdown

Gallup ^ | 01/16/2019 | Jeffrey Jones

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* 37% approve of the job Trump is doing

* Approval had been 39% in last update

* Congress' job approval also similar to pre-shutdown measures

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump's latest job approval rating is 37% in the midst of what is now the longest running government shutdown in the U.S. His prior approval rating, from before Christmas, was 39%. While Trump's rating has been little affected by the shutdown, it is the first time his approval rating has been 37% or lower since February.

The latest results are based on a Jan. 2-10 Gallup poll. The federal government shutdown began on Dec. 22 after Trump and congressional leaders failed to pass a continuing budget resolution. That came as the Congress refused to authorize Trump's request of more than $5 billion to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Currently, 59% of Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing, up from 55% before Christmas. However, his disapproval rating had been similar to today's level in November, reaching 60% after the midterm elections.

The current shutdown has had almost no impact on how Republicans and Democrats view Trump. According to the latest poll, 88% of Republicans approve of the job Trump is doing, showing no meaningful change from 89% before the shutdown began. Democrats' approval of Trump remains in single digits, at 6%. To the extent that Trump's support has suffered, it has been with independents, among whom approval has dropped from 39% to 31%.

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Change in Trump's Job Approval Ratings, by Political Party

	Dec. 17-22	Jan. 2-10	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
Republicans	89	88	-1
Independents	39	31	-8
Democrats	8	6	-2
Gallup

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Change in Congress' Job Approval Ratings, by Political Party

	Dec. 3-12	Jan. 2-10	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
Republicans	23	20	-3
Independents	23	18	-5
Democrats	9	22	+13
Gallup

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Government Shutdowns: Approval Ratings of Presidents and Congress

	Before shutdown	During/After shutdown	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
1995/1996
Clinton	51	42	-9
Congress	n/a	n/a	n/a
2013
Obama	45	42	-3
Congress	19	11	-8
2018/2019
Trump	39	37	-2
Congress	18	20	+2
Gallup

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Implications:

Americans’ opinions of federal government leaders have not been affected much during the current government shutdown. It is uncertain how long the shutdown will continue as neither Trump nor Democratic congressional leaders appear willing to compromise on the border wall issue at the root of the conflict.

The effects of the shutdown are becoming more apparent, with federal workers’ missed paychecks last week being perhaps the most notable development. While the shutdown has so far had little effect on leaders’ public support, there is no guarantee that will continue to be the case the longer the shutdown persists, particularly if reports of the toll it is taking on federal workers, and Americans more broadly who are unable to obtain certain government services, become more prominent.

[dan on the right]

These dopey Talk shows keep emphasizing that a majority of Americans blame the shutdown on Trump. 58% or something.

That’s is right, I blame him and I’m proud of him for doing it! (They never seem to ask a follow up.) They assume everyone is against the shutdown.

I’m all for it. Don’t back down! $5.7B or bust.