President Trump’s approval rating subject to downward trend

Richard Decker
Staff Writer

Several students have expressed their concerns and discontent with President Donald Trump’s overall performance in the Oval Office while his national approval rating has declined to 38 percent, according to a joint-network poll.

The poll, conducted by Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies for NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, interviewed 900 adults, including 405 respondents with a cell phone only and 26 respondents reached on a cell phone but who also have a landline.

Trump’s approval rating is at its lowest point of his presidency. This drop is mainly among independents (8 percent drop in approval rating), caucasians (4 percent drop) and caucasians without a college degree (7 percent drop).

His current presidential rating is the lowest in modern history. The NBC/WSJ poll had George W. Bush at 88 percent, Barack Obama at 51 percent and Bill Clinton at 47 percent.

In addition to surveying Trump’s overall approval rating, the study also found that most Americans wish to see a turning of tides in Congress, with 48 percent preferring a Democrat-controlled Congress, 41 percent preferring a red legislature and 11 percent unsure. However, polls are not perfectly representative of individual populations such as Hudson Valley.
Michael Albert, a sophomore communications major with party affiliation closest to the Independents, disagrees with the poll, believing a gridlocked Congress would be a detriment to the country.

“For 2018, I believe a Republican-controlled Congress would progress any actions by the President forward rather than stagnate them for an additional two years,” Albert said.
Other students, like Mario Mascaro, a second year political science major, disagree. “I am a Democrat, so I do very much hope my party retakes the legislature, certainly,” he said. He also added that he was more concerned about legislative outcomes than partisanship.

“If another party were to push the policy items I care about, that would satisfy my only real requirement [of the government],” he said.

The survey further explored Trump’s performance ratings, measuring some of his recent actions over the past few months, such as the administration’s handling of the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the aftermath of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the situation in North Korea.

One of the highest-rated actions by Trump recently was his handling of the destructive aftermath in Texas and Florida after the hurricanes with and handling of the economy, with 48 and 42 percent approval ratings, respectively.

Darius Haizlip, a sophomore automotive major, debates Trump’s handling of the economy. “Trump is selfish and he only cares about the rich and only wants to achieve his own goals that support himself and the wealthy,” said Haizlip.

The President struggles on almost every other issue. 53 percent disapprove of his job as commander in chief, 51 percent disapprove of his handling of the situation in North Korea and 57 percent disapprove of his handling of Healthcare.

Garrett Moss, an Independent and second year political science major, believes the Trump administration needs to act more proactively regarding North Korea. “It’s an inevitability that we will be at war with North Korea and we should take care of them now,” said Moss.

While the administration has taken several inflammatory steps in its diplomatic procedures with North Korea, Moss believes it is not enough and the United States should invade the country. “I am not a big fan of foreign wars but if they are fought with the goal of protecting American citizens in the long run, then it’s worth it,” he said.

Mascaro also disapproves of Trump’s handling of the situation in North Korea, and believes a significantly different approach is necessary.

“I can categorically say the President’s comments regarding DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) are not just unhelpful, but are actually dangerous in real and material ways,” stated Mascaro.

Mario Mascaro is a former Military Intelligence Analyst with the United States Army and current student at Hudson Valley. He was deployed in South Korea in 2011 to help develop the understanding of the threat posed by DPRK for the 210 Fires Brigade at Camp Casey, South Korea.
He said “Foreign policy with DPRK cannot be conducted via public media. That’s not how this works. DPRK is sustained by appearing to be strong, forcing them to respond aggressively to even minor slights. This Administration needs to immediately cease saying needlessly provocative things.”