Eight in 10 Americans believe country headed in wrong direction: Poll

More Americans view negatively the direction of their country than at any point during Republican Donald Trump’s tenure as president, a new poll shows.

According to the poll from the Associated Press and the NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, almost eight in 10 Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction as their nation is confronted with a number of problems, including the coronavirus pandemic, anti-racism protests, and a venomous presidential election.

Only 38 percent of those surveyed see the national economy in a positive light, down nearly half from 67 percent in January, before the pandemic was known to have struck the country.

The Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of the disease and according to the poll, only 32 percent approve of his response.

Meanwhile, the president is apparently trying to appeal to his most loyal supporters by taking some measures with just 100 days left before the election on November 3.

He has shifted his tone on the coronavirus pandemic by wearing a mask and describing himself “patriotic” for doing so.

“It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better,” he told reporters at the White House last week, then offered a piece of advice, “Get a mask. Whether you like the mask or not, get a mask. … They have an effect.”

The new poll shows that while 81 percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance, only 68 percent of them support his handling of the pandemic.

He has also deployed federal law enforcement units to US cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Chicago in what is seen as a ploy to drum up a “law and order” campaign.

Portland, the biggest city in the state of Oregon, has been hit particularly hard by violent protests over the past two months.

The excessive use of force by officers in Portland has angered local leaders and Democrats in Congress, who have been complaining about the Trump administration’s approach.

The president has fared badly so far this summer in either national polling or among swing-state voters.