Most Americans know the federal government is shut down — and they’re not shrugging it off. Most expect it to hurt them personally, fear it will damage the country even more, and increasingly blame Republicans and President Donald Trump — whose low approval rating has taken a strong hit — for the crisis.
That’s according to an extensive Navigator poll released on Wednesday.
Overall, Americans blame Trump and the GOP for the shutdown by a 14-point margin — up four points from last week. And Trump and Republicans in Congress are increasingly seen in a negative light over what they’re fighting for in the shutdown.
At the same time, Trump is now seeing his lowest approval rating since 2018, according to Navigator. Other polls have produced similar results.
Three out of four Americans have heard some news of the shutdown. And about two-thirds (66%) have heard a lot or some about it.
It’s having a massive impact.
“64 percent believe the shutdown will have a negative impact on them personally, up from half who thought the same last week. Even more (77 percent) believe it will have a negative impact on the country,” Navigator reported.
Nearly half of Americans, 47%, blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, an increase of four points over last week.
“Since last week, independents increasingly blame Trump and Republicans more than Democrats for the government shutdown,” according to Navigator. “When forced to choose between Trump and Republicans or Democrats, a majority say Trump and Republicans have the power to end it (52 percent – 21 percent).”
Americans also see Trump and the GOP as trying to keep the government shut down, and give Democrats “more credit” for trying to keep the government open.
A plurality, 42%, say Democrats are fighting for health care and see that as a positive.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) want Trump and the GOP to compromise with Democrats, and by a strong margin (39 points).
Overall, according to Navigator’s graphics, when asked about nine issues, Americans’ top concern (76%) currently is the shutdown, and it has no clear end in sight.
That’s closely followed by the rising cost of health care and Americans losing coverage without congressional action (74%).
Food stamp funding (SNAP) running out on Nov. 1, leaving about 42 million people without federal nutritional assistance, comes in a close third (73%).
All this appears to be having an impact on Trump’s popularity.
“As the shutdown continues, President Trump’s overall approval rating (-16) and economic job approval (-21) remain underwater, the lowest point both of these metrics have been since the beginning of our shutdown tracking.”
