By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Only 31 percent of Americans consider Donald Trump “honest and trustworthy,” the lowest share recorded since the start of his second term, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll. A majority, 53 percent, say the president is not honest, while the rest are unsure.

The same survey shows broad suspicion about Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Seven in 10 Americans say Trump knew either “a lot” (44 percent) or “some” (27 percent) about Epstein’s sex crimes before they became public; just 8 percent say he knew nothing. Trump’s handling of the Epstein investigations carries a net approval rating of –39, with Democrats overwhelmingly disapproving and Republicans giving modest support. The recent transfer of Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security Texas prison is opposed by 47 percent of Americans, with just 14 percent in favor and 38 percent unsure. Nearly half say they are not sure whether Trump ordered the move; 36 percent believe he did.

Trump’s overall job approval stands at 42 percent, with 54 percent disapproving — a net rating of –12. That is slightly better than his standing at this point in his first term, when his net approval was –15, but remains negative. Comparisons with former President Joe Biden’s term show that Biden’s net approval was below –15 for much of the second half of his presidency, and Trump’s current rating on inflation matches Biden’s lowest point on the issue.

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Trump continues to face steep challenges with Black voters. A July Economist/YouGov poll found that just 12 percent of Black Americans approved of his job performance, while 81 percent disapproved. Decision Desk HQ averages show more than 70 percent of Black voters disapprove, with roughly a quarter approving. Those figures follow the 2024 election, in which Pew Research Center’s validated voter study found Trump improved among Black voters compared to 2020, winning 15 percent overall — including 21 percent of Black men and 10 percent of Black women — while Harris secured 83 percent. AP VoteCast estimated that 92 percent of Black women voted for Harris, a figure that may have since increased.

Beyond the Epstein controversy and approval ratings, the poll highlights other political flashpoints: 52 percent of Americans favor independent commissions for drawing congressional maps, only 9 percent believe partisan gerrymandering should be allowed, and nearly half expect inflation to rise in the next six months. On Trump’s firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, twice as many Americans say it was unjustified (36 percent) as say it was justified (18 percent), with 46 percent unsure. Trust in federal economic data is evenly split between those who trust it (41 percent) and those who distrust it (42 percent)

Stacy M. Brown

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