Donald Trump is less popular than Obama ever was [Gallup survey]

If you thought Obama was unpopular, then you should take a look at President Donald Trump’s approval and disapproval ratings. All through 2016, Barack Obama’s approval ratings were in the low 50s and disapproval ratings were somewhere around mid-40s. Trump has already gone lower than that.

The popularity rating is determined by Gallup survey and they have been tracking presidents’ ratings since 1945. This is done by interviewing 1500 adults daily over the phone. Three weeks into his term, Donald Trump had an approval and disapproval ratings of 45% each way. But now only after two months of his term has been completed, his approval rating has plunged to 37% while disapproval rating has climbed to 58%. This is a new record because no other president had this kind of numbers so early in their presidency. At the same time period during his first stint, former President Barack Obama had a approval rating in low 60s. President Donald Trump has always ignored these ratings, terming the negative polls as fake news.

The legislature to repeal and replace Affordable Care Act can be one of the primary reasons for this dip in approval ratings. Republicans are trying their best to get the healthcare plan approved; however there are many critics and doubters of the new plan, even among the republicans. According to a Congressional Budget Office report, the plan if it comes into effect will leave over 24 million Americans without insurance by 2026.

The budget proposal created by the Trump administration hasn’t helped matters either. The new budget is heavily favorable towards defense and has proposed severe cuts to many humanitarian projects like foreign aid, healthcare and environmental projects etc. Another matter that could be contributing to the decline in ratings is the scandal involving top people in the administration and their relationship with Russia.

(Writing by Ananya Dutta; Editing by Mohith Agadi)