New poll shows Trump's performance tanking, especially with Dems and independents

News and views of importance to Floridians and other thoughtful Americans

In a column earlier this week, I invited readers to answer this question:

After one year in office, do you think Donald Trump has made America great again?

The reaction: Not so much.

And now a new national poll — unsurprisingly — validates that assessment.

A New York Times/Sienna poll shows that less than a third of all Americans think the country is better today than a year ago when Trump, now 79, became the oldest person ever to be sworn into the presidency.

By the numbers:

• 49 percent of Americans feel the country is worse off today than a year ago.

• 19 percent say it is the same and has not gotten better.

• 32 percent believe it is better off.

That 32 percent is driven largely by registered Republicans, 73 percent of whom give Trump’s performance a thumbs up.

Democrats, conversely, overwhelmingly disapprove of his performance with 86 percent saying the country is worse off today than it was when he took office.

In comparison, at this point in his presidency, Barack Obama enjoyed an overall approval rating of 55 percent versus Trump’s current 36 percent in some polls.

In this latest poll, Trump’s approval rating was scored at 40 percent, still underwater, and he was in negative numbers across most issues, especially as relates to the Epstein Files.

• Overall job as president: 40 percent approve; 56 percent disapprove.

• The Epstein Files: 22 percent approve; 66 percent disapprove

Moreover, The Times noted:

Overall, only 34 percent of independent voters, who tend to determine who wins elections, approve of the job that Trump is doing. And twice as many independent voters think the country is worse off now compared with a year ago than better, 52 percent to 24 percent.

That rating among unaffiliated voters may be especially important in Florida where a quarter of all voters have declined to register with a political party and are considered NPAs, or No Party Affiliation.

As CNN has noted, the fall’s midterm election “will serve as a referendum on the first two years of President Donald Trump’s second term and will shape his final two years in office.”

If history is a guide, Republicans stand to lose seats in the House of Representatives, which, given their very narrow majority now, could mean Democrats could take over.

Which is one reason why Trump has been insisting Republican-controlled states redraw their congressional boundaries to favor Republican candidates.

In Florida, the state’s House of Representatives is currently working on a scheme to do just that, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he plans to call a special session of the legislature in the spring to finish the job.

Currently, Florida has a total of 28 congressional representatives, 20 of whom are Republicans.

Related:

President Trump’s approval rating: Latest Polls

Few voters say Trump’s second term has made the country better, poll finds

Care to weigh in? Let us hear from you by clicking the Comment link below:

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J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a Florida online news service dedicated to sharing news and commentary relevant to Florida readers, whether it originates in the Sunshine State or elsewhere. Bruce is an award-winning former newspaper editor, journalist and author living in Florida, his native state.

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Onward thru the fog

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you are a rational person living in the Free State of Florida, what with the book banning, anti-woke laws, gerrymandering, corruption, and MAGA madness. And don’t get me started on the Gulf of America or Alligator Alcatraz.

But there are plenty of smart, reasonable people just like you here, and the purpose of this newsletter and the Tropic Press website is to provide a source of news, information and viewpoints that shine a light through this irrational fog.

I encourage you to jump into the conversations through the Comments links. Some of the keenest observations and cleverest writing on this site come from your fellow readers.

Thank you for your support as a subscriber. It is invaluable. This is especially so for those of you who have chosen to upgrade to paid subscriptions. Your contributions are making this possible.

There’s no doubt the coming months here in Florida and nationally will be trying. But I firmly believe brighter days are ahead. Chin up, keep a smile on your face, and stay sane.

J.C. Bruce

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As this newsletter was written, Tropic Press was reaching more than 750,000 subscribers in Florida and elsewhere in the United States. With mid-term elections on the horizon, the more people we reach, the more effective we can be in helping turn this country around. You can play a vital role in that effort by sharing this newsletter with friends. If you are reading this as an email, simply forward it. Or you can use the link below. Thanks.

More online

Thank you for reading the Tropic Press newsletter. You also have access to the Tropic Press website for additional and previous posts, an archive of posts from our advice columnist, Miss Mingo, occasional guest commentaries, and information about The Strange Files series of mysterious adventures and other books.

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