Gallup: Trump Approval Rating Drops Amid Mixed Coronavirus Messaging

Gallup Polling reports Donald Trump’s approval rating, which had risen in the aftermath of his impeachment acquittal, has dipped 5 points to 44 percent as he and his administration have sent conflicting messages about the severity of the COVID-19 threat.

The latest reading is from Gallup’s March 2-13 poll, which was conducted as the novel coronavirus spread throughout the U.S., eventually leading to international travel restrictions, the cancellation of major U.S. events and widespread school closures.

The magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. quickly evolved over the poll’s field period, and Americans’ (particularly Democrats’ and independents’) concern about it increased sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded historic declines in the past two weeks.