American voters believe 51 to 35 percent the Russian government has "compromising information" about President Donald Trump, a new Quinnipiac University National Poll has found.
"Whether it is with love or not, President Donald Trump's relationship with Russia has delivered a small blow to his already poor standing with the American people," said Peter Brown, the poll's assistant director.
"Following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, [his] job approval is back below 40 percent again. The president gets a split 49-47 percent score on the economy, but he receives negative reviews on his handling of a bevy of international problems and especially his relationship with Russia."
Trump has long denied rumors the Kremlin has damning information about him that it is using to influence his dealings with Russia.
The Quinnipiac poll of 1,177 voters nationwide, conducted from July 18-23, also found:
- Republicans don't believe – 70-18 percent – there is compromising information, but are the only listed party, gender, education, age, or racial group which does not believe it.
- Two other groups are divided: 44 percent of white voters with no college degree believe the Russians have something and 43 percent do not.
- 42 percent of white men believe it and 43 percent do not.
- The U.S. and Russia share the blame for the relationship between the two countries, 54 percent of U.S. voters say, while 38 percent say Russia is to blame and 4 percent say the U.S. is.
- The Helsinki summit between Trump and Putin was a failure for the U.S., voters say 52 to 27 percent. The summit was a success for Russia, voters say 73 to 8 percent.
- Trump was not acting in the best interest of the U.S., voters say 54 to 41 percent.
- 68 percent are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about Trump's relationship with Russia, while 32 percent are "not so concerned" or "not concerned at all."
- Voters give Trump a negative 38 to 58 percent job approval rating, compared to a negative 43 to 52 percent rating in a June 20 Quinnipiac poll after the summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
- The president's only clear support among listed groups is from Republicans, who approve 82 to 15 percent, and white evangelical Christians, who approve 71 to 26 percent.
- White voters with no college degree are split 49-47 percent and white men are divided as 49 percent approve and 47 percent disapprove.
- Voters also disapprove 58 to 38 percent of the way Trump is handling foreign policy and say 51 to 35 percent he has weakened the U.S. position as leader of the free world.
- Regarding the Russia investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting a fair probe into possible collusion, voters say 55-31 percent.
- The investigation is "legitimate," 54 percent of voters say, while 40 percent say it is a "witch hunt."
- Trump did not collude with the Russian government to influence the 2016 presidential election, American voters say 48-39 percent.
- But voters are divided on whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians, as 46 percent say it did and 44 percent say it did not.
- The investigation is "legitimate," 54 percent of voters say, while 40 percent say it is a "witch hunt."
- A total of 63 percent of voters are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" the Russian government might try to interfere in the 2018 elections, as 36 percent are "not so concerned" or "not concerned at all."
The poll, headquartered in Hamden, Connecticut, has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
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