As the nation faces uncertainty and anxiety over the global COVID-19 pandemic, they’re rallying around their commander-in-chief. The Gallup presidential approval tracking finds 49% of Americans approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing, up from 44% (+5) earlier this month.
Among Republicans, Mr. Trump’s approval is 92%, but his approval also increased among Democrats and Independents. Thirteen percent of Democrats approve of the job the president is doing, up six points from earlier this month. Among Independents, Mr. Trump’s approval sits at 43%, up eight points.
Mr. Trump’s response to the public health crisis may be the driver for his higher rating. Sixty-percent of Americans (94% of Republicans, 60% of Independents, and 27% of Democrats) approve of how the president is handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Gallup, every president from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush saw their approval rating increase at least 10 points after a significant national event or crisis. The length of the pandemic, as well as the president’s handling of its impact on the economy, will dictate whether his approval continues to rise. The incomprehensible Democratic approach to the emergency relief bill ($35 million for the Kennedy Center! Election day voter registration! Emissions standards for airplanes!) could factor into this as well.
