“The fact that Independents and Whites trust Trump to handle the Ukraine situation more than the sitting president could have huge ramifications this November.”
A new poll shows similar shares of Americans trust Biden and Trump to handle the Ukraine situation, but Whites and Independents place more trust in former President Trump.
The poll, conducted by non-partisan YouGov, finds 37% of Americans say they trust Biden to handle the situation in Ukraine over Trump, and 34% say they trust Trump over Biden. The rest trust neither. However, Whites place more trust in former President Trump, with 41% saying they trust Trump over Biden and 35% saying they trust Biden.
Men trust Trump over Biden by three percentage points (38% to 35%), and Gen Xers aged 45-64 trust Trump over Biden by six percentage points (41% to 35%). Independents show one of the largest swings for Trump, with eight percent saying they trust Trump (33%) over Biden (25%). Midwesterners also trust Trump over Biden by eight percentage points (39% to 31%).
“Independents and Midwesterners trust Trump over Biden by eight percentage points.”
These numbers come at a time when trust in government, and particularly the Biden administration, are perilously low. As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, Biden’s foreign policy numbers are further declining. The Biden administration is also receiving low marks on inflation and energy costs, and could pay the price at the ballot box.
The latest YouGov poll finds Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of foreign policy 49% to 41%, while 10% aren’t sure. Hispanics narrowly disapprove of Biden’s foreign policy 44% to 43%, and Blacks approve of Biden’s foreign policy 57% to 22%.
White men without a college degree are the most critical of Biden’s foreign policy, with 52% strongly disapproving and 64% disapproving overall of the President’s strategy. Americans in the 30- to 44-year-old age cohort also strongly disapprove of Biden’s foreign policy, with 30% strongly disapproving, and 46% disapproving overall.
Independents are particularly critical of Biden’s foreign policy, with a full 43% strongly disapproving and 59% disapproving overall.
“Independents are particularly critical of Biden’s foreign policy, with a full 43% strongly disapproving and 59% disapproving overall.”
Americans also hold increasingly critical views of the Biden administration on economic issues. According to a new Ipsos poll, 58% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of the economic recovery and 70% of Americans disapprove of the President’s handling of both gas prices and inflation.
“Fifty-eight percent of Americans disapprove of Biden’s handling of the economic recovery and 70% of Americans disapprove of the President’s handling of both gas prices and inflation.”
While more than three-quarters (77%) of Americans say they support banning Russian oil imports even if it means higher gas prices, history has shown Americans are likely to grow weary of higher energy prices and express their frustration at the ballot box.
In an opinion piece titled, “Polls Show the Public Is Willing to Sacrifice for Ukraine. History Suggests Biden Shouldn’t Count On It”, journalist Jeff Greenfield points out Americans could sour on policies that hurt their pocketbooks no matter what they say in polls.
“In the absence of a direct attack, the patience of Americans fades”, opines Greenfield. “The shocks at the gas pumps in 1973 and 1979 were inflicted by OPEC, but Richard Nixon and later Jimmy Carter bore the political cost.”
Greenfield concludes that Biden would be wise not to count on continued public support for policies that negatively impact Americans.
Biden’s falling polling numbers on both foreign policy and domestic issues are a serious threat to the Democratic party’s midterm prospects. The fact that Independents and Whites trust Trump to handle the Ukraine situation more than the sitting president could have huge ramifications this November.
