President Trump accepts Justice Department’s request for compensation over first-term investigation
President Donald Trump has responded to reports that he is seeking compensation from the Justice Department. He said he would donate any damages awarded.
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have slightly increased in a new poll. Additionally, 51% of survey respondents said the president would be credited with brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas if it were to be reached.
A six-day Reuters/Ipsos poll released Oct. 21 put the president’s approval rating at 42%, up two points from the pollster’s previous poll earlier this month, but the increase remains within the poll’s margin of error.
According to surveys conducted by public opinion polling organizations since early April, the president’s approval rating has ranged from 40% to 44%.
According to the average New York Times poll, as of October 22nd, President Trump has an approval rating of 43% and a disapproval rating of 53%. The average RealClearPolitics poll is a few points higher, with 45% approval and 52% disapproval. Both averages have been nearly stagnant for several months, with net negative trends.
The poll was conducted between October 15th and 20th among 4,835 American adults. There is a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.
The majority of Americans support the establishment of a Palestinian state.
But while the survey shows Americans are leaning toward supporting the ceasefire and praising President Trump’s role, it also shows the president is more out of touch with the people on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
Polls show that most Americans believe the United States should recognize Palestinian statehood, a position that has not been promoted by the administration or previous administrations. In recent weeks, a number of countries, including some of the United States’ closest allies – Britain, Canada, France and Australia – have formally recognized a Palestinian state, drawing condemnation from Israel.
President Trump has been a major supporter of Israel in its more than two-year war with Hamas, which began after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis, including many civilians. Israeli shelling has destroyed large swathes of Gaza and killed more than 67,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Authority.
A majority of respondents, 59%, supported recognition of a Palestinian state, while 33% opposed recognition. The remaining 8% were unsure or did not answer the question.
Support for an independent Palestinian state is divided along party lines. It is strongest among Democrats, with 8 in 10 backing the idea and 41% of Republicans.
About 60% of poll respondents said Israel’s response in Gaza was excessive, while 32% opposed it.
Republicans are taking more of the blame for the government shutdown.
The government shutdown is in its third week, now at 22 days, the second longest in history. Among both parties, the survey found that Republicans are more enthusiastic about the crisis than their Democratic colleagues.
As of October 22, there is no sign that Congress will reach a breakthrough before President Trump departs on October 24, a few days later, on a multi-day trip to Asia. As the impasse approaches a month, 50% of respondents in the poll blame Republican Congressional leadership, followed by 43% who blame Congressional Democrats.
The results echo several other polls released during the government shutdown, which showed a slight majority of Americans blame Trump and Congressional Republicans over Congressional Democrats for the federal government shutdown.
Contributed by: Reuters.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml.
