On a day when President Trump turned to Twitter to rip the New York Times and one of the most influential conservative caucuses in the House, a new poll found that a majority of Americans believe he is too fast to pick a fight.
Rasmussen Reports said that 57 percent view Trump as “too confrontational.” Just 6 percent think he is “too cooperative,” and 32 percent see his approach as “about right.”
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The failing @nytimes has disgraced the media world. Gotten me wrong for two solid years. Change libel laws? https://t.co/QIqLgvYLLi
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
By comparison at this time into his new presidency, Barack Obama was not viewed as confrontational at all. Said the poll analysis: “Looking back at Obama, just 15 percent felt his leadership was too confrontational in late March 2009, while 52 percent rated it about right. Twenty-four percent felt he was too cooperative. By December 2016, though, only 33 percent said his leadership style was about right.”
Unlike Obama, however, Trump arrived promising to “drain the swamp” and uproot Washington political and media customs. In many cases he has, to the delight of his followers.
Today saw him tie on the boxing gloves again when he raised the specter of libel laws against the Times and promised to fight the influential GOP Freedom Caucus.
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
The same poll also found that Trump’s leadership rating is upside down. Some 38 percent said his performance as a leader is good or excellent, but 48 percent call it poor.
The poll of voters was taken after the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
