Trump Administration Sets Grim New Poll Record

Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS More Americans than ever now believe corruption is widespread across the U.S. government.

A new Gallup poll found that nearly nine in 10 Americans now believe corruption is prevalent across the government—a 10-point increase from the same survey last year, in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Those figures mean the United States has the highest level of perceived government corruption among countries with advanced economies, according to Gallup, which polled 1,000 Americans in May and June.

The increase has been particularly pronounced among Democrats, whose views have shifted sharply since Trump returned to the White House.

In 2024, during Joe Biden’s presidency, 57 percent of Democrats said corruption was widespread.

That figure increased to 76 percent in 2025, Trump’s first year back in office, and reached 91 percent this year, according to Gallup.

Republican views, by contrast, have changed comparatively little over the same period.

This year, 83 percent of Republicans said corruption was widespread, compared with 90 percent of independents.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Polls point to a likely brutal midterms for Republicans, with perceptions of corruption within the Trump administration likely a factor in the grim GOP outlook.

A recent Emerson College poll has Democrats leading Republicans by eight points on the generic congressional ballot.

Democrats have increasingly focused their criticism on what they describe as potential conflicts of interest and “self-dealing” within the Trump administration.

The allegations include scrutiny of a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for administration allies who said they had been unfairly investigated, as well as no-bid contracts awarded to individuals and firms with ties to Trump allies.

The issue has also drawn attention to Trump’s personal financial activity while serving as president.