WASHINGTON (AP) — A recent poll indicates that Americans are increasingly skeptical of government information, with majorities expressing little or no trust in federal government communications about elections, foreign affairs, and environmental issues. The survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts reveals that trust in government information has declined since 2024 and is lower than at the end of President Donald Trump's first term. This trend highlights the potential impact of Trump's efforts to restructure federal agencies on public confidence, particularly among Democrats.
The poll found that only 34% of U.S. adults trust government certifications of election results 'a great deal' or 'quite a bit,' a decrease from 40% in 2024. Certification processes, typically routine, have become politicized following Trump's loss in the 2020 election. The survey also indicates a growing partisan divide in trust levels, with Democrats showing increased skepticism since Trump regained office.
Shannon Ingram, a 46-year-old Democrat from Maryland, expressed her concerns about government communication, citing shifting health recommendations as an example of perceived bias. Approximately 60% of U.S. adults reported low trust in federal government information regarding various topics, including the environment and immigration, with trust in education information rising from 37% in 2019 to 53% now.
The poll results come amid significant changes in the executive branch, including the dismantling of key federal programs and agencies by Trump. This has led to a reduction in the number of government statisticians and experts, raising concerns about data quality.
Jeremy Cove, a Republican from Missouri, stated he trusts Trump's guidance on vaccines but disagrees with the administration's stance on climate change. The survey also revealed that the gap in trust between Republicans and Democrats has widened since Trump's first term, with independents showing increased mistrust under Biden.
Public concern about election result accuracy is prevalent, with nearly half of U.S. adults expressing worry that the federal government might discredit or tamper with election results. Trump's repeated claims of voter fraud and attempts to impose new voting restrictions have contributed to this anxiety.
The poll also found that trust in political campaign messages is low, with only about 10% of U.S. adults believing that Democratic or Republican campaign messages are often based on factual information. Trust in government certifications of election results has declined significantly among both parties since 2024.
The AP-NORC/ USAFacts poll surveyed 1,036 adults from July 29 to August 10, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points for the overall sample. The margin of error is plus or minus 6.4 for Republicans and plus or minus 6.0 for Democrats.