(AURN News) — To call President Donald Trump’s use of executive authority in his second term unprecedented is putting it mildly. And according to new polling, a growing number of Americans are starting to take notice.
New data from the Pew Research Center shows that 49 percent of U.S. adults believe Trump is trying to wield more presidential power than his predecessors — and view that as bad for the country.
The survey comes as the president continues to exert broad control not only over the executive branch, but also the legislative and judicial branches.
Among Republicans and those who lean Republican, 42% said Trump has definitely used his office to target people who speak out against him.
Even so, most Republicans continue to back his approach. Seventy-four percent say Trump’s governing style in his second term has improved how the country functions.
Seventy-three percent say it has improved the United States’ standing on the world stage.
Pew also found a shift regarding personal gain. Thirty-one percent of Republicans now say Trump has improperly used the presidency to benefit himself, his friends or his family — up from 23% when Pew asked the same question in 2019.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
