Full Breakdown
Majority of Americans Say Corruption Shapes Federal Government Decisions, New Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows
8/19/2026, 11:51:37 PM
Core Findings of the August 2026 Poll
The sentiment crosses party lines, with large shares of Democrats, Republicans and independents expressing the view. A narrow majority ( 51 %) say the level of corruption under the Trump administration was worse than under other recent presidencies, while 22 % say it was better and 24 % say it was about the same. When asked which party is “more corrupt,” 49 % named the Republican Party and 41 % named the Democratic Party. Regarding President Donald Trump, 33 % approve of his job performance and 64 % disapprove. On foreign policy, four-in-five respondents expect U.S. military involvement in Iran to continue for an extended period and most disapprove of potential strikes. These results were released in Washington, D.C., on August 19, 2026.
Poll Methodology
The survey used Ipsos’s probability-based KnowledgePanel® and sampled 1,166 U.S. adults aged 18 or older. Weighting adjusted for gender, age, race, ethnicity, region, metropolitan status, education, household income, 2024 vote choice and party identification. The overall margin of sampling error is ± 2.9 percentage points at the 95 % confidence level; sub-sample margins vary. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, which may cause column totals to differ slightly from 100 %.
Context on Ipsos
Ipsos, founded in France in 1975, has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. It operates in 90 markets with nearly 20,000 employees, providing research for a range of public-affairs and market-insight clients. The firm’s “Game Changers” tagline reflects its focus on delivering data-driven insights for clients navigating rapid change.
Implications for Public Opinion and the 2026 Midterms
The poll highlights widespread public concern that corruption affects government decision-making, a factor that could shape voter attitudes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Perceptions of party corruption and low approval of President Trump suggest potential challenges for Republican candidates, while the strong belief that U.S. involvement in Iran will persist may influence foreign-policy debates.
Anticipated Follow-Up
The release notes that the poll also explored views on key issues slated for the 2026 midterms, indicating that further analysis may be forthcoming as campaign dynamics evolve.
