More U.S. citizens approve of President Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic than the media’s reaction.
According to a Monday poll from Monmouth University, 50% of U.S. citizens approve of President Trump’s behavior during the coronavirus outbreak, while only 45% of the public feels the media have acted appropriately during the crisis.
However, Trump’s approval ratings stem largely from Republicans and independents, with 89% and 48% support from those demographics, respectively. Only 19% of Democrats agree that the president’s response has been adequate during the public health crisis.
“The president gets more positive than negative marks for his handling of the COVID outbreak but his numbers are still driven by the nation’s typical partisan divide. Governors, on the other hand, seem to be emerging as the most trusted official voice in this crisis across the board,” said Director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute Patrick Murray.
Partisanship is also reflected in the public’s view of the media, though to a lesser degree than Trump’s approval. 69% of Democrats feel the media have done a “good job” reporting during the coronavirus pandemic, whereas 59% of Republicans and 52% of independents believe the press has done a “bad job.”
Additionally, the public has a worse view of both the reactions of Congress and itself during the spread of the COVID-19 virus, with 42% and 38% approval, respectively.
The poll surveyed 851 adults from March 18-22. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
NATIONAL POLL: Who has handled #COVID19 outbreak best?
GOOD JOB/BAD JOB
72%/18% – Governors
65%/24% – Federal health agencies
50%/45% – @realDonaldTrump
42%/37% – Congress
45%/43% – Media
38%/45% – American publichttps://t.co/Y1uXyHPMsm— MonmouthPoll (@MonmouthPoll) March 23, 2020
