The coronavirus pandemic, which has already killed more than 4000 Americans and shut down much of the US economy, is the most urgent and unpredictable crisis of Trump's presidency. The coming weeks will likely shape how Americans view the wisdom of giving him a second term in the November election, where he is likely to face off against former Vice-President Joe Biden.
Trump initially downplayed the virus, comparing it to the flu. He also suggested restrictions on work and travel could be lifted by mid-April, arguing that the response to the virus shouldn't be worse than the health crisis itself.
But the President has shifted his stance again in recent days, and yesterday, the White House estimated up to 240,000 Americans could die from coronavirus even if strict social distancing measures are maintained. If those steps aren't taken, the number of deaths seems certain to increase.
"I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead," Trump said.
Trump's approval ratings are propped up by strong support from Republicans: 82 per cent back his handling of the pandemic.
Democrats remain overwhelmingly opposed to the President, with just 14 per cent of Democrats supportive of his actions in recent weeks.
The President, whose lengthy press conferences from the White House have been broadcast daily throughout the crisis, rates higher than both the federal government as a whole and the US Congress, which just approved US$2.2 trillion in emergency funding for major industries, small businesses and individuals.
Lawmakers are already discussing additional ways to stabilise the economy as the pandemic appears likely to stretch deep into at least the northern summer.
Thirty-eight per cent of Americans approve of the federal Government's handling of the outbreak, while 41 per cent disapprove. And just 31 per cent approve of how leaders in Congress are handling the crisis, less than the 41 per cent who disapprove. Fewer than half of Democrats or Republicans approve of how Congress is handling the situation.
Americans have a far more favourable opinion about the response efforts by their state and local governments — positive feelings shared across the political spectrum.
More than half of Americans, including 56 per cent of Democrats and 65 per cent of Republicans, say their states are managing the outbreak well.
Judy Kunzman, 73, a retired nurse in Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania, is among those who says her state government's response is superior to that of the President and federal Government.
"I keep thinking of Harry Truman and how he always said, 'The buck stops here.' Our President says, 'I'm not taking responsibility for that,'" Kunzman said.
She said that while Trump appears to be taking the matter more seriously in recent days, his response still leaves a lot to be desired.
"When you have to be pushed to the edge before you do the almost correct thing, that's not an improvement," Kunzman said.
State and local governments have much of the power to shape the response in their locales, determining what businesses remain open, how long schools will be closed and what penalties there are, if any, for those who violate stay-at-home or similar orders.
That's led to a patchwork of restrictions, with major cities including New York, Chicago and San Francisco virtually shut. More than 30 states issued stay-at-home orders more than a week ago, while Florida's governor resisted doing so until this week, even as coronavirus cases rose in the state.
Trump, too, initially resisted recommendations from public health officials to extend social distancing measures until at least April. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said today he decided to abandon his county-by-county approach for a statewide order after consulting Trump.
The poll shows that a large majority of Americans, 78 per cent, back requiring Americans to stay in their homes except for essential errands. Roughly the same amount also favour restricting travel within the US and requiring bars and restaurants to close.
Those numbers reflect a sharp increase in public concern over the virus within the past six weeks. Half of Americans now say they are extremely or very worried about either themselves or a family member being infected by the virus.
That compares with 31 per cent who said the same just two weeks ago and 22 per cent who said so six weeks ago, when more Americans were concerned about the flu.
Susan Oldfield, a 68-year-old retiree in rural Jesseville, Arkansas, said she trusts the guidance from the federal Government and wishes more people did.
"I see people using poor judgement and saying, 'Oh, this is just a hoax,' or, 'This is just something to smash our rights or take away our constitutional rights,'" Oldfield said.
"It doesn't seem like, to me, it's like you have to do this for no reason. You have to do this for a real reason."
- AP
