Declining Trust in U.S. Government Information as 2026 Midterms Near

The AP-NORC/USA Facts survey of 1,036 adults, conducted beginning July 29 and wrapping up in early August, found that only 34 % of U.S. adults trust government certifications of election results “a great deal” or “quite a bit,” down from 40 % in 2024. Trust is especially low among Democrats (44 % high trust, down from 65 % in 2024) and modest among Republicans (29 % high trust, a slight rise from 2024). Across all topics—environment, foreign affairs, elections, politics, abortion, and immigration—about six-in-ten adults express low trust, saying they trust the federal government “only a little” or “not at all.” The same share distrusts vaccination recommendations, and only one-in-ten adults view campaign messages from either major party as “always” or “often” factual.

Associated Press

During President Donald Trump’s first term, Democrats were less likely than Republicans to distrust government information, but the gap was modest. The gap widened after former President Joe Biden took office, with Republican mistrust rising and Democratic mistrust falling. When Trump returned to the White House, Democratic distrust surged again, while Republican confidence rose only slightly. The poll notes that the partisan divide in trust began under Biden and intensified under Trump’s second administration.

Associated Press

President Trump has reiterated unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud from the 2020 election, pursued new mail-voting restrictions, and urged Congress to adopt a proof-of-citizenship voter-registration requirement. Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin warned state officials that non-compliance with the administration’s election-security demands could result in funding losses or investigations. The administration’s broader policy shifts—including the dismissal of thousands of federal employees and the EPA’s rescission of a long-standing climate-science finding—have been cited by experts as risks to data quality and public confidence.

Associated Press

• “It’s pretty hard to trust anything that’s being communicated,” — Shannon Ingram

Associated Press

• “I love Trump; I voted for Trump, but some of the things he’s doing just makes me distrust more,” — Jeremy Cove

Associated Press

Nearly half of U.S. adults report being “extremely” or “very” concerned that the federal government might publicly discredit, tamper with, or pressure officials over election results. Low confidence in certification processes and in campaign messaging suggests a heightened risk of public disputes over the legitimacy of the upcoming midterm outcomes.

Associated Press