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Poll: Americans Hold Favorable View of US Economy, But Not Trump


U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans have a favorable view of the U.S. economy, according to a new poll, even as they give President Donald Trump negative reviews for his handling of the world's largest economy and an array of other issues.

In its latest poll, Quinnipiac University said 63 percent of voters consider the U.S. economy to be "excellent" or "good," while 34 percent say it is "not so good" or "poor."

Three-fourths of voters described their own financial situation as "excellent" or "good," while a quarter had a negative view of their personal financial situation.

The pollster said voters, by a 51 to 44 percent margin, disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy. By a narrow margin, 45 to 43 percent, voters say that former President Barack Obama deserves more credit than Trump for the favorable state of the U.S. economy. The current 4.1 percent jobless rate is at a 17-year low and stock market indexes are at all-time highs.

Overall, Quinnipiac said voters, by a 59-37 margin, disapprove of Trump's White House performance 11 months into his presidency, almost identical to Gallup's 59-36 negative reading on Trump's tenure.

By wide margins, the pollster said Americans do not think Trump is honest. They believe he does not have good leadership skills, does not care about average Americans, is not level-headed and does not share their values. But Quinnipiac said that by a 57-40 margin, Americans view Trump as a strong person, and by a 52-45 edge, that he is intelligent.

The poll gives Trump negative reviews for his handling of foreign policy, terrorism, immigration, health care and tax policy, even as Congress is set to approve a $1.5 trillion tax cut over the next decade, Trump's first major legislative victory.

Quinnipiac said that by a 50-46 edge, voters think Trump should resign in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations more than a dozen women made against him during the 2016 presidential election campaign. Trump has repeatedly said the accusations are unfounded and the White House has said voters were aware of the allegations when they cast their ballots and decided to elect him anyway.

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