59% Say Trump Should Not Be Allowed To Hold Office In Future, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 2 Out Of 3 Republicans Do Not Think Biden's Victory Is Legitimate
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As Donald Trump finishes his term in the White House just days after becoming the first President of the United States to be impeached twice, a majority of voters (59 - 38 percent) say he should not be allowed to hold elected office in the future. Surveys throughout Trump's presidency have shown stark political divides, and this last survey of his time in office is no different. Republicans say 80 - 18 percent that Trump should be allowed to hold elected office in the future, while Democrats say 96 - 3 percent and independents say 59 - 38 percent that he should not be allowed to hold elected office.
In the same week President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office, a majority of voters say 64 - 31 percent that his victory in the 2020 presidential election is legitimate. However, Republicans say 67 - 28 percent that Biden's victory is not legitimate, while Democrats say 97 - 0 percent and independents say 62 - 32 percent that Biden's victory is legitimate.
This is up slightly from a December 10, 2020 poll when voters said 60 – 34 percent that Biden’s victory was legitimate. In that poll, Republicans said 70 - 23 percent it was not legitimate.
"A seething President Trump seems poised to slip out of D.C. by the back door while the transition takes place, leaving a wary capital encircled by troops, a weakened country assaulted by a murderous virus, and a weary population disillusioned and divided, wondering if the person next door is a friend or an enemy," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
IMPEACHMENT
Following the riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, a majority of voters approve of the House of Representatives' recent vote to impeach President Trump, 55 - 42 percent.
This is an increase from a January 2020 poll when Trump was impeached for the first time by the House of Representatives over different charges involving the president's actions involving Ukraine and U.S. elections. In January of 2020, voters said in a slightly different question that they approved 51 - 46 percent of the House of Representatives voting to impeach Trump.
Asked whether the Senate should vote to convict President Trump or not, a majority, 54 - 42 percent, say yes, the Senate should convict. In a related question about whether or not the Senate should remove Trump from office after he was impeached in January 2020, voters were split, with 48 percent saying he should not be removed and 46 percent saying he should be removed from office.
Separately, voters say 59 - 39 percent that President Trump is responsible for inciting violence against the government of the United States.
Just over half of voters say, 51 - 43 percent, that President Trump's actions following the 2020 presidential election warrant criminal charges.
PRESIDENT TRUMP & REPUBLICANS
In the final measure of Donald Trump's job approval as President of the United States, voters give him a negative approval rating for the way he's handling his job as president, 34 - 61 percent. This is essentially unchanged from a week ago, when he received a negative 33 - 60 percent approval rating, tying his all-time low. In comparison, former President Obama's final job approval on January 10, 2017 was a positive 55 - 39 percent, one of his highest approval ratings.
In today's poll, Republicans say 73 - 21 percent they approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president.
Just last month, Trump received one of his highest job approval ratings following the November election when voters gave him a negative 44 - 51 percent approval rating. In that December 10th poll, Republicans approved 89 - 9 percent.
"Though he has taken a hit with the base, no matter what legal issues he faces, Donald Trump can take some solace in the fact that almost three-quarters of the GOP still support him and nearly that same percentage believe the election was stolen from him," added Malloy.
Voters are divided on whether Donald Trump represents the Republican party. Forty-nine percent say he does not, while 45 percent say he does. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans say Trump does represent the GOP.
On whether Trump should continue to play a prominent role in the Republican party after he leaves office, voters say 65 - 29 percent he should not. Republicans say 61 - 33 percent that he should.
Asked about the Republican members of Congress who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, roughly six in ten voters (63 percent) say those members should face consequences, while roughly two in ten (22 percent) say they should be celebrated. Among Republicans, just under half (49 percent) say they should be celebrated, while 26 percent say they should face consequences. Another 24 percent of Republicans say they are unsure. Democrats say 94 - 2 percent and independents say 62 - 23 percent that they should face consequences.
CONCERNS ABOUT VIOLENCE
Broadly, voters say they are more concerned about violence in the nation's capital than they are about violence in their own state this week.
Sixty-nine percent of voters say they are either very concerned (42 percent) or somewhat concerned (27 percent) about further violence in Washington, D.C. around the time of President-elect Job Biden's inauguration, while 28 percent say they are not concerned (11 percent) or not concerned at all (17 percent).
When asked about violence in their states around the time of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, 52 percent of voters say they are either very concerned (20 percent) or somewhat concerned (32 percent), while 47 percent say they are not so concerned (19 percent) or not concerned at all (28 percent).
Asked about the role that white supremacy played in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 51 percent of voters say it played a major role, while 18 percent say it played a minor role and 24 percent say it played no role at all.
1,131 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from January 15th - 17th with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than twenty states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 34% 73% 3% 34% 40% 29% 28% 49% Disapprove 61 21 97 59 53 67 66 47 DK/NA 5 6 1 7 7 4 6 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 23% 31% 45% 35% 49% 33% 41% 11% 34% Disapprove 72 61 51 63 45 63 54 88 58 DK/NA 6 8 4 2 6 3 5 1 8Trend TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
App Dis DK/NA Jan 18, 2021 34 61 5 Jan 11, 2021 33 60 7 Dec 10, 2020 44 51 5 Jul 15, 2020 36 60 4 Jun 18, 2020 42 55 3 May 20, 2020 42 53 5 Apr 08, 2020 45 51 5 Mar 09, 2020 41 54 5 Feb 10, 2020 43 53 3 Jan 28, 2020 43 52 5 See additional trend information at top of page
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Question 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve strongly 26% 59% 2% 23% 31% 22% 20% 38% Approve smwht 7 12 1 10 8 6 8 9 Disapprove smwht 5 8 2 5 8 2 5 5 Disapprove strongly 55 13 95 54 45 65 61 42 DK/NA 6 9 1 8 8 5 7 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve strongly 12% 22% 36% 29% 38% 25% 31% 6% 29% Approve smwht 10 7 8 5 10 8 9 4 5 Disapprove smwht 11 5 2 3 6 3 5 4 6 Disapprove strongly 61 56 49 59 38 59 49 84 52 DK/NA 6 10 5 4 8 5 6 3 8Trend TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
APPROVE...... DISAPPROVE..... Strngly Smwht Smwht Strngly DK/NA Jan 18, 2021 26 7 5 55 6 Jan 11, 2021 26 7 5 54 8 Dec 10, 2020 36 7 5 47 5 Jul 15, 2020 25 10 6 54 5 Jun 18, 2020 32 10 6 48 4 May 20, 2020 28 14 7 46 5 Apr 08, 2020 32 13 8 42 5 Mar 09, 2020 30 11 7 47 5 Feb 10, 2020 35 9 6 47 4 Jan 28, 2020 34 8 6 47 5 See additional trend information at top of page
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Question 2. Do you think that Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election is legitimate or not legitimate?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Legitimate 64% 28% 97% 62% 58% 70% 74% 49% Not legitimate 31 67 - 32 38 25 22 45 DK/NA 5 5 2 6 4 5 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Legitimate 73% 69% 56% 64% 50% 66% 59% 90% 66% Not legitimate 24 30 38 30 44 29 36 8 31 DK/NA 3 1 6 7 6 5 5 3 4Trend TREND: Do you think that Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election is legitimate or not legitimate?
Not Legit Legit DK/NA Jan 18, 2021 64 31 5 Dec 10, 2020 60 34 6 -
Question 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the House of Representatives' recent vote to impeach President Trump?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 55% 15% 94% 52% 47% 62% 59% 41% Disapprove 42 83 4 43 48 36 38 56 DK/NA 4 2 2 5 5 2 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 65% 53% 46% 57% 39% 56% 48% 85% 55% Disapprove 31 42 52 40 57 42 49 11 42 DK/NA 4 5 2 3 5 2 3 3 3 -
Question 4. As you may know, now that the House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Trump, the Senate will hold a trial. Do you think the Senate should vote to convict President Trump, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Should convict 54% 11% 92% 52% 45% 62% 58% 41% No 42 85 4 43 49 35 39 55 DK/NA 4 4 4 5 6 3 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Should convict 63% 53% 46% 55% 39% 55% 48% 85% 55% No 32 41 51 42 56 42 48 8 44 DK/NA 5 6 3 3 5 3 4 7 2 -
Question 5. Do you think President Trump should be allowed to hold elected office in the future, or not?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Allowed 38% 80% 3% 38% 46% 30% 31% 52% No 59 18 96 59 51 67 65 45 DK/NA 3 3 1 3 3 2 4 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Allowed 30% 40% 44% 36% 53% 36% 44% 9% 39% No 68 58 53 60 43 61 53 90 61 DK/NA 2 2 3 4 4 3 3 1 - -
Question 6. How concerned are you about - further violence in Washington D.C. around the time of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 42% 20% 64% 39% 28% 55% 46% 35% Somewhat concerned 27 23 29 32 31 24 27 29 Not so concerned 11 19 3 11 15 7 13 12 Not concerned at all 17 33 3 17 23 12 14 20 DK/NA 3 5 2 1 3 3 - 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 38% 38% 38% 53% 23% 53% 39% 61% 44% Somewhat concerned 38 29 24 19 35 22 28 23 28 Not so concerned 10 13 12 10 15 10 12 6 8 Not concerned at all 10 20 20 16 24 12 18 8 20 DK/NA 4 1 5 2 3 3 3 2 - -
Question 7. How concerned are you about - violence in your state around the time of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 20% 10% 30% 16% 12% 28% 16% 16% Somewhat concerned 32 23 42 31 26 37 37 29 Not so concerned 19 16 20 22 24 15 21 20 Not concerned at all 28 49 7 29 37 20 26 32 DK/NA 1 2 - 2 1 2 - 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 14% 19% 20% 28% 8% 23% 16% 37% 27% Somewhat concerned 35 29 33 33 27 37 32 34 33 Not so concerned 28 15 16 17 24 17 20 12 12 Not concerned at all 22 37 28 22 39 21 29 17 28 DK/NA 2 - 3 1 2 2 2 - - -
Question 8. Do you think Donald Trump represents the Republican party, or not?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 45% 69% 31% 43% 50% 40% 43% 52% No 49 28 65 50 43 55 52 42 DK/NA 6 2 4 6 7 5 5 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 38% 43% 47% 49% 55% 42% 48% 40% 33% No 58 50 45 47 38 54 46 52 61 DK/NA 4 7 8 5 8 4 6 7 6 -
Question 9. Do you think Donald Trump should continue to play a prominent role in the Republican party after he leaves office, or not?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 29% 61% 2% 32% 35% 24% 22% 41% No 65 33 95 64 58 72 74 54 DK/NA 6 7 3 5 7 4 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 22% 28% 34% 31% 40% 28% 33% 6% 30% No 75 65 59 66 54 69 62 89 63 DK/NA 3 7 7 3 7 3 5 5 7 -
Question 10. Which comes closer to your point of view: the Republican members of Congress who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election should be celebrated for their actions or face consequences for their actions?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Celebrated 22% 49% 2% 23% 26% 19% 19% 34% Face consequences 63 26 94 62 56 69 64 50 DK/NA 15 24 4 15 17 13 17 16 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Celebrated 14% 21% 29% 23% 33% 23% 28% 3% 19% Face consequences 74 60 57 62 48 62 56 87 70 DK/NA 12 19 15 15 19 14 16 10 11 -
Question 11. Do you think that any of President Trump's actions following the 2020 presidential election warrant criminal charges, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Warrant charges 51% 12% 86% 49% 41% 61% 55% 37% No 43 82 7 47 52 34 39 57 DK/NA 6 6 7 4 7 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Warrant charges 60% 52% 44% 53% 32% 56% 45% 79% 58% No 36 42 51 40 62 40 50 14 37 DK/NA 5 6 5 7 7 4 5 7 5 -
Question 12. Do you think President Trump is responsible for inciting violence against the government of the United States, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Responsible 59% 17% 96% 57% 49% 68% 63% 44% No 39 82 2 40 48 31 35 53 DK/NA 2 2 2 3 3 1 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Responsible 67% 58% 52% 60% 39% 63% 52% 90% 61% No 30 40 47 37 57 36 46 8 38 DK/NA 3 2 2 3 4 1 2 1 1 -
Question 13. How much of a role do you think white supremacy played in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th: a major role, a minor role, or no role at all?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Major role 51% 17% 85% 47% 37% 63% 57% 39% Minor role 18 23 10 23 24 12 19 19 No role at all 24 47 1 26 32 16 19 33 DK/NA 8 13 3 5 7 8 5 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Major role 53% 50% 47% 56% 31% 59% 46% 81% 53% Minor role 20 19 18 16 25 14 19 10 18 No role at all 21 24 28 19 37 19 27 5 20 DK/NA 6 7 8 9 7 8 8 4 8