Trust In the Executive Branch Hits Lowest Level Ever, Worse Than Watergate Era: Poll

Trust in the federal government has hit all-time lows in several categories, according to a new survey.

The Gallup poll found that trust in the legislative and executive branches of government continues to trend downward. Trust in the judicial branch fared better, according to the data, but still is at an all-time low.

Trust in the executive branch of government now stands at 33 percent, seven points below the previously recorded low point of 40 percent. Gallup had recorded that level twice, once in 1974 following the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The other low point was in 2024 after President Biden's disastrous debate performance that ended up leading to him not running for re-election.

Trust in the legislative branch hit a low of 28 percent, the lowest level since 2014. The judicial branch remains the most trusted branch of government, coming in at 46 percent, but that still marked a new low.

"Public trust in government has been trending downward for the past two decades, but this year brings steeper declines in some measures," Gallup noted in the report. "Trust in the federal government's ability to handle international problems is down 12 percentage points from last year, and trust in the executive branch is down eight points. Trust in the federal government to deal with domestic problems is five points below last year's level."

The poll's findings align with other recent data points. Pew Research Center published a poll last week that found President Trump's approval rating had cratered to just 30 percent. Worse for the president, the decline was tied to an erosion of support among his political base.

According to Pew, his approval among Trump voters had fallen from 95 percent after he was elected to 67 percent now. At this point in Trump's first term, Pew had his approval rating at 38 percent.

The Pew data also found that only 39 percent of Republicans were satisfied with the state of the nation. Overall, 22 percent of Americans were satisfied, and 77 percent said they were dissatisfied.

Likewise, the Gallup poll found trust in the executive branch declining significantly in the last year among Republicans and independents.

"Republicans and independents show double-digit declines in trust in the executive branch, while Democrats, whose trust was in the single digits a year ago, didn't change materially. Trust levels in the legislative and judicial branches show more modest changes, if any," Gallup stated.