U.S.

Most Americans see Donald Trump’s MAGA as a threat to democracy

Most Americans see Donald Trump's MAGA as a threat to democracy

58% of respondents in the two-day poll, including one in four Republicans, said Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement threatens the Democratic foundation of the United States.

Joe Biden’s Sept. 1 speech marked a sharp turnaround in his efforts to support Democrats in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking control of Congress.

Speaking in Pennsylvania, a key state, Biden urged voters to reject Trump and extremism. Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, responded by calling Biden a divisive man.

The poll shows a sharp polarization in American politics. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said Biden’s speech would further divide the country, though about half said they did not watch the speech at all.

Although Donald Trump remains popular among Republicans, his position within the party has weakened after a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from legally approving Joe Biden’s election victory.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 60% of Republicans do not view the MAGA movement as representing a party majority.

Joe Biden’s own approval ratings remain low, despite a number of recent legislative accomplishments. Only 39% of respondents said they approve of his performance as president, not much higher than the lowest level Trump had during his presidency.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online across the United States, with a sample of 1,003 adult respondents, including 411 Democrats and 397 Republicans. The margin of error of the result is 4%.