Americans split with Trump but take hope in economy

Sunken approval ratings a bad sign as election anniversary approaches

Americans overwhelmingly disagree with President Trump on just about everything from his military threats to North Korea to his combative stance toward NFL players who won’t stand for the national anthem.

A USA TODAY/ Suffolk University poll also finds an unusual disconnect: Americans are increasingly optimistic about the nation’s economy.

“He’s just really intent on keeping the nation divided,” says William Reed, 52, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton last year and was among those polled. “No empathy, no compassion; just all about him and tweeting.”

Trump’s defenders counter that he has faced tough problems and unrelenting opposition from his political foes. “It’s not a good climate out there, and he’s navigating through it,” John Sakach, 80, the owner of a construction- supply business in suburban Chicago, says in a follow- up interview.

For the first time during Trump’s presidency, a majority of Americans, 53%, say in the USA TODAY poll that the economy is in a recovery. That typically would lift views that the nation is headed in the right direction. This time, nearly two- thirds, or 64%, say the country is on the wrong track, up 21 percentage points since the beginning of the year and the highest of Trump’s tenure.

As Trump approaches the one- year anniversary of his election in November, his underwater approval ratings and the public’s anxiety hold perils for his presidency. They embolden his critics and make it harder for him to push legislative proposals such as a tax bill through Congress.

Historically, sagging presidential approval ratings signal trouble for the party in power in midterm elections.

Americans hold just about everybody in politics in low esteem, not to mention the news media.

Congress gets a whopping unfavorable rating of 64%- 17%. The Democratic Party is viewed unfavorably by double digits, 48%- 37%. The GOP fares worse, 62%- 23%. Vice President Pence’s unfavorable rating is better than Trump’s ( 57%- 34%), but it’s still in negative territory, at 44%- 36%.

The news media is viewed unfavorably by 54%- 31%, worse than the dismal 50%- 37% unfavorable rating in the first poll of the year.

Those surveyed say, by 57%- 33%, that they want to elect a Congress in 2018 that would mostly stand up to Trump, not mostly cooperate with him. That includes almost one in five Republicans, as well as the predictable partisan divide: Nine of 10 Democrats call for an opposition Congress.

DIPLOMACY OR MILITARY?

When it comes to North Korea, Americans are more likely to agree with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson than with his boss.

By 3- 1, 61%- 20%, Americans say the United States should pursue diplomacy to try to curtail North Korea’s nuclear program, not undertake military action. By 69%- 15%, they say the United States should launch military strikes only in response to a North Korean attack, not as a pre- emptive step.

“There’s a place for the military, absolutely, but when dealing with nuclear weapons, you have to try diplomacy first,” says Annie Davis, 41, of Greenville, S. C., the manager of a veterinary clinic who was among those polled.

Saturday, in Beijing, Tillerson said the United States “made it clear that we hope to resolve this through talks.”

“I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,” Trump tweeted Sunday, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!”

Those surveyed disapprove of the president’s handling of North Korea by 56%- 34%.

Trump supporters and critics agree that there is no easy path ahead. “This guy, Kim, is a very unstable man,” says Doug Johnson, 54, of Hannibal, Mo.

OBAMACARE REPAIR

Six in 10 Americans, 59%, say Congress should either leave the Affordable Care Act alone or fix the problems with the program but leave its framework intact. That’s up 6 percentage points since June.

Those surveyed express dismay and bewilderment that legislators haven’t been able to work together.