EXCLUSIVE New research found half of Americans have noticed Trump becoming angrier and more impatient, with 45% saying they thought he was “less smart” than in his first term
(Image: AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Half of Americans think Donald Trump has become angrier and more impatient – as he faces mounting questions about his health and capacity to perform the job of President.
And some 45% of voters said they thought Trump had become “less smart” during his second term in office. Trump, 80, has been noticeably croaky and cranky during the midterm election campaign, repeatedly complaining at his gruelling schedule of touring the country in support of Republicans who fear losing their races in the predicted “blue tsunami”.
Exclusive PF Global Research for The Mirror also found most (53%) Americans think Trump criticises the media even when they report fairly. And some 52% said the US President dodges hard questions.
It comes as Trump faces increasing scrutiny over his ability to function in one of the most gruelling and intense jobs in the world.
Trump angrily denied being “sick of travelling” on Thursday night as he cancelled a pair of rallies just days before the Midterm elections.
Trump was scheduled to visit Kansas for a rally on Saturday, and another in Iowa on Sunday, the final events in a month of almost daily rallies. Republican Senator Roger Marshall is at risk of losing his Kansas seat on Tuesday, with a “blue tsunami” of seats poised to flip to the Democrats.
Instead of visiting the state in person, Trump planned to hold “tele-rallies” – mass conference calls where supporters can dial in to hear the President speak from the Oval Office. Trump angrily denied switching from an in-person event to a low-effort method of campaigning was due to him being tired of travelling.
But the following day the two in-person rallies were re-instated – something Trump grumbled about during what he thought was going to be his final speech of the campaign in Florida on Friday night.
Meanwhile voters have noticed the US President is quicker to anger – frequently snapping angrily at reporters who ask him questions he doesn’t like. And last month he tried to ban several news outlets from the White House, claiming they were “unfair” in their coverage of him. The ban is currently being blocked by the courts.
Americans are split on issues of press freedom. 42% say journalists generally try to report the truth, 38% that they lie to push an agenda. Republicans lean towards saying they lie (59%) while lean towards saying they try to report the truth (58%).
And the poll found almost half of Trump’s party (45%) backed Trump’s desire to ban reporters over stories he doesn’t like.
Seb Wride, Head of Research at PF Global: “For many of the President’s supporters, he can do no wrong when it comes to the media. While most Americans think Trump dodges hard questions, most Republicans think he answers them with 45% of his backers even leaning towards banning anti-Trump journalists from White House briefings. But there are signs that shouty exchanges with media might be harming the President’s image; half of Americans think Trump has become angrier since he became President”
