Trump’s Approval Rises to 42% Amid Ongoing GOP Shutdown Blame

UPDATE: President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has surged to 42 percent, despite the Republican Party facing significant blame for the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its 21st day. This new data comes from the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, which closed on October 15, 2023.

The recent uptick, a two-point increase from earlier this month, marks the first time Trump’s approval has reached 42 percent since early September. As the government funding impasse approaches its fourth week, public sentiment overwhelmingly blames GOP lawmakers for the standoff, with a staggering 50 percent of Americans attributing responsibility to congressional Republicans.

The poll, conducted over six days, reveals that while 43 percent blame Democrats, 7 percent of respondents chose not to assign blame. Among Republicans, a notable 84 percent fault congressional Democrats, while only 14 percent hold their own party accountable. Conversely, 89 percent of Democrats blame the GOP, with just 9 percent blaming their own party.

As negotiations remain stalled, the Senate failed for the 11th time on Monday to meet the necessary 60-vote threshold for a stopgap funding bill aimed at reopening the government. The ongoing crisis has intensified as Democrats stand firm on their demands for health care concessions, while Republicans continue to advocate for a “clean” continuing resolution.

For individuals identifying with neither party, 51 percent blame the GOP, 34 percent blame the Democrats, and 15 percent opted out of answering. This division underscores the deepening partisan divide as the government shutdown affects millions of Americans.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey included 4,385 adults and carries a margin of error of 2 percentage points, reflecting a crucial moment in U.S. politics that could influence upcoming elections.

As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Congress to see if any compromise can be reached to end the shutdown. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, as the continued impasse affects government services and federal employees nationwide.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds. The political landscape remains volatile, and public opinion is shifting rapidly as the implications of this shutdown are felt across the country.