US citizens’ trust in the federal government has fallen to a record low, according to a survey
A Fox News poll has shown that Americans’ trust in the federal government has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years. The majority of voters also express dissatisfaction with the direction the country is taking and the economic situation.
Americans’ trust in the federal government has fallen to its lowest level in more than two decades, according to a new Fox News poll. Against this backdrop, nearly two-thirds of voters say they are dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking.
According to the survey, only 25 per cent of registered US voters say they ‘generally trust’ the federal authorities. The opposite view is held by 74 per cent of respondents, whilst a further 1 per cent were unable to give an answer.
Compared with previous surveys, the trust rating has fallen from 32 per cent. The previous all-time low – 31 per cent – was recorded at the end of June 2023, a few weeks after Donald Trump was charged with federal offences relating to the handling of classified documents.
A long-standing trend of distrust
Fox News polls show that in the early 2000s, more than half of Americans trusted the federal government – during George W. Bush’s presidency. However, since the end of Barack Obama’s second term, the trust level has not risen above 40 per cent. Over the past decade, distrust has been steadily rising. Currently, 74 per cent of voters say they do not trust the US government.
Political divisions
A breakdown by political affiliation reveals deep polarisation:
83 per cent of Democrats expressed distrust (compared with 73 per cent a year earlier)
Around two-thirds of Republicans also do not trust the government
8 out of 10 independent voters express distrust, whilst only 18% express trust
The survey also highlights economic pessimism: more than half of respondents believe that the country’s economic policy favours the rich. Only 12% say their financial situation is improving, whilst 44% report a deterioration and 43% say it remains stable.
The results have become yet another warning sign for Donald Trump’s administration in the run-up to the mid-term elections, journalists note.
The Fox News poll was conducted between 12 and 15 June among 1,002 registered US voters. The margin of error is ±3 per cent.