Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is illegally or unethically benefiting from his position, as a new poll indicates that most Americans have come to this belief. The results of this recently released poll show that 40 percent of respondents believe Trump has done something illegal, and another 18 percent consider his actions unethical, but not illegal.
Public Opinions on Trump
This poll, conducted among 2,140 adults from September 24 to 28, also reveals that 56 percent of respondents believe Trump has significantly prioritized his personal interests, while only 23 percent feel that he has prioritized the country as a whole. Eleven percent of respondents feel that Trump does not pay attention to "people like them," and half of the respondents said he has not paid any attention to them at all.
Concerns about Corruption and Personal Interests
Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to believe that the President has prioritized the country overall; however, they also have criticisms. Only about 10 percent of Republicans believe Trump has done something illegal, and most say he has done nothing wrong or lacks sufficient information to judge.
Richard La Raja, a professor at the University of Massachusetts, states that Trump's wealth increase over the past two years is unprecedented. He points to a half-billion-dollar investment by a company linked to the Emirati royal family in Trump's cryptocurrency projects last year, which has raised questions about conflicts of interest from regulatory bodies and lawmakers. According to Trump's latest financial disclosure on June 30, he earned over $1.4 billion from these projects last year.
La Raja emphasizes that this situation represents a structural conflict of interest because he is setting policies that directly benefit his family and also encourages foreign investments, such as from the United Arab Emirates, in his family projects.
A separate poll conducted at the University of Massachusetts in August shows broader concerns about government corruption. According to this poll, 75 percent of respondents believe there is a lot of corruption in the federal government. Additionally, 53 percent of respondents identified the presidency as "the most corrupt institution in government."
The majority of respondents (54 percent) also stated that a public official using their position for personal financial gain or that of their family, even if legal, is definitely corrupt. Another 29 percent believe this behavior is likely corrupt.
La Raja adds that the level of public attention to a politician's wealth or the perception of its unethics often depends on the overall state of the country. He cites countries like Hungary and says, "In times when someone is recognized as corrupt, people are more likely to tolerate it if the economy is thriving; but when the promise of prosperity does not materialize for voters, they start to question what is going on? And this is where corruption becomes more apparent.
Only 28 percent of 2,275 respondents to another poll regarding Trump's management of jobs and the economy are satisfied. Consumer prices also increased by 3.4 percent in August compared to the previous year.
Price pressures are primarily due to Trump's tariffs and the war with Iran. The New York Federal Reserve estimates that tariffs have added 2.9 percent to consumer goods inflation until February 2026. The war has also raised fuel prices and increased costs for industries that are heavily reliant on diesel.
La Raja states, "Trump promised a better economy, and now inflation has risen. There is a war, and this war is directly related to inflation."
The AP-NORC poll was conducted less than a month before the midterm elections, where the Republican Party is trying to maintain its majority in the House and Senate. Experts view this election not only as an assessment of Trump but also as an evaluation of whether the candidates' association with Trump will benefit or harm them.
