Majority of Voters Say President Trump Increases Corruption, New Poll Finds

A recent survey conducted by the Navigator Research Project indicates that 60 % of American voters believe President Donald Trump is adding to corruption in Washington, while 40 % think he is reducing it. This marks a sharp reversal from the early months of his presidency, when the poll showed only a 2-point advantage for the “corrupt” view. The same poll reports that 33 % of all voters consider most elected officials corrupt, a figure that rises to 40 % among independents.

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The poll’s results align with a Gallup survey released the previous week, which found that 89 % of Americans perceive corruption as widespread in the federal government—an all-time high. Across party lines, 51 % of respondents say Trump and Republicans are more corrupt than Democrats, compared with 32 % who view Democrats as more corrupt. When the question omits Trump’s name, the gap narrows: 46 % say the GOP is more corrupt versus 34 % for Democrats. Trust in each party’s ability to tackle corruption is similarly low, with 35 % of voters trusting Democrats and 33 % trusting Republicans to handle the issue effectively.

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Democratic candidates are emphasizing anti-corruption themes in their campaigns. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Texas Senate candidate State Representative James Talarico have highlighted the issue in recent outreach. Some progressive voices within the party caution that the Democratic establishment may be reluctant to pursue aggressive anti-corruption measures for fear of alienating corporate donors linked to alleged Trump-related schemes.

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Republican strategists have responded by running advertisements that point to a bipartisan congressional bill aimed at banning stock-trading by members of the House, attempting to portray the GOP as proactive on the matter.

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The poll’s director, Tina Tang, described the shift as “a big, big change,” noting that concern about Trump’s impact on corruption now cuts across demographics and partisan lines.

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• “This is a big, big change,” — Tina Tang, the group’s polling director

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