Steve Kornacki: Trump’s Job Performance Approval Rating Is 36%, a Steady Decline Throughout His Second Term
RUSH EXCERPT:
KORNACKI: "Good morning. Let’s dive. Keep in mind this decision desk poll is of all adults, not just registered voters. A bit of a wider net we are casting here. Still some very clear answers here especially when it comes to this, President Trump’s job performance and approval rating in this decision desk poll of just 36%. This has been a slow steady decline throughout Trump’s second term. He was at 45% in the spring of 2025 in our decision desk poll. Now down to 36% approval. One thing it’s really dragging that number down, it’s this. The war with Iran. Only 31% approval on this. And even seeing some indications of cracks in Trump’s base on this question in particular. So heading into the midterms, obviously, key numbers with the president here. Also the backdrop. This issue of AI picking up on shifts here and broad apprehension when it comes to this. Asking people a bottom line, are you more excited or more worried about the advent of AI, the advances? Overwhelmingly, more worried, a two to one margin here. There is a bit of a partisan dimension. More than three quarters of Democrats you see more worried. Among Republicans more than a third who say they are more excited but still you can see it, it’s broad. The apprehension there, the concern is broad across party lines when it comes to AI. There is also the sort of risk/reward calculation here. The benefits, the potential benefits of AI, what do folks think? There is a fair number who say they are high or high potential benefits. A lot who say there are low or potential low. A lot in the middle. How about the risk side of it? Here it’s very, very clear again. Two-thirds say the risks of AI are very high or high. How about that question here that’s getting a lot of attention now in politics, data centers. Would you support or oppose the construction of a data center in your area? Only 31% support, 69% oppose. Progressive Democrats are most likely to be on the hardest opposition of this. But even among MAGA Republicans, it’s about a 50/50 split on whether they would support it in their backyard here. Then there is this question here, too, we see a shift. AI and schools. Would you rather see AI integrated into schools or prohibited? Now a majority say prohibit AI in schools. We tested this about a year ago. It was different. Back then it was a slight majority who said integrate it. So picking up on a shift there. A long-term question here sort of about all of the areas of American life that could be affected by AI asking if these areas will be affected and it’s more good or more harlful. Overwhelmingly folks say more harmful. In all of these areas, elections, news, higher education, jobs, national security, two areas though where folks show some optimism when it comes to AI, the only two areas, we will show you them right here, health care and scientific research. A little bit different there. So, kristen, again deep apprehension here with some hints of optimism but it’s an issue that seems to be getting more and more attention in our politics."
