Poll: Americans Disapprove Of Media Wars

President Donald Trump is doing more to divide the country, 62 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say he is doing more to unite the country, his worst score on this question, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

President Trump gets a negative 35 - 59 percent overall job approval rating, down from a negative 39 - 57 percent rating in an August 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University. Every party, gender, education, age and racial group disapproves except Republicans, who approve 77 - 14 percent; white voters with no college, approving 52 - 40 percent, and white men, who approve by a narrow 50 - 46 percent.

American voters disapprove 60 - 32 percent of Trump's response to the events in Charlottesville.

President Trump's decisions and behavior have encouraged white supremacist groups, 59 percent of voters say, as 3 percent say he has discouraged these groups and 35 percent say he has had no impact on them.

There is too much prejudice in the nation today, 55 percent of American voters say, while 40 percent say there is too much political correctness, the widest margin for prejudice since the question first was asked in June 2016.

Prejudice against minority groups is a "very serious" problem, 50 percent of voters say, while 31 percent say it is "somewhat serious," a new high for these numbers.

Since Trump's election, "the level of hatred and prejudice in the U.S. has increased," 65 percent of voters say, while 2 percent say it has decreased and 32 percent say it hasn't changed.

"One word - Charlottesville.

"Elected on his strength as a deal-maker, but now overwhelmingly considered a divider, President Donald Trump has a big negative job approval rating and low scores on handling racial issues," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

American voters disapprove 55 - 40 percent of the way the news media covers Trump, and disapprove 62 - 35 percent of the way the president talks about the media. Voters trust the media more than Trump 54 - 36 percent "to tell you the truth about important issues."

Stop tweeting from your personal account, voters tell the president 69 - 28 percent.

In an open-ended question, allowing for any answers, 64 voters (not percent) say "strong" is the first word that comes to mind when they think of Trump. "Idiot" is the first word for 59 voters. Another 58 voters say "incompetent," as 50 say "liar" and 49 say "president."