Trump’s approval rating hits new low in wake of Obamacare repeal calamity

Anthony Pearce
Trump’s approval ratings continue to fall
Trump’s approval ratings continue to fall (Rex)

Already the least popular president in history after two months in office, Donald Trump has seen his approval ratings fall even further, according to a new poll.

Following the Republican’s failed effort to pass a new healthcare bill to replace the Affordable Care Act — often known as Obamacare – Trump slumped to just 36 per cent.

To put that in perspective, the business mogul has already fallen beyond the all-time lows of Barack Obama (38 per cent) and Bill Clinton (37 per cent) — while still in the infancy of his presidency.

After a similar time in office, Jimmy Carter had an approval rating of 75 per cent; Obama’s was at 63 per cent; while Clinton’s was at 53 per cent.

According to Gallup, which commissioned the poll, he has averaged 42 per cent for his term to date. His highest, the week after his inauguration, was at just 46 per cent.

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The news comes after Republican leaders of the House of Representatives abruptly scrapped a scheduled vote on Friday to repeal and replace Obamacare, in what was a humiliating defeat for the man who wrote The Art of the Deal.

Accusations of nepotism are mounting against the businessman-turned-politician after his daughter, Ivanka, was given a West Wing office and security clearance, despite not holding an official government role.

President Trump has also given her husband, Jared Kushner, a new job to head up a division that will overhaul federal bureaucracy. Allegations of Russian interference in the election also continue dog him.

Trump’s approval ratings are at an historic low for a president this early in the premiership. However, presidents have slumped to worst ratings.

As Gallup points outs: Presidents George W Bush (lowest approval rating: 25 per cent), Richard Nixon (24 per cent) and Harry Truman (22 per cent) are all among those who had job approval ratings lower than 36 per cent at least once during their administrations.