US President Donald Trump has faced severe criticism recently over his government's response to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Now his approval rating has slipped to a record low as he appeared vague when questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The latest poll from the Democracy Institute finds that half of all Americans now disapprove of his job performance, while 48 percent approve. A mere 2 percent said they didn't know.
Trump's refusal to release the Epstein "client list" is believed to be the most likely explanation for the decline. The Justice Department had previously said Epstein killed himself and that there was no evidence to support a list of more powerful people implicated in crimes.
Despite the DOJ's findings, many Trump fans are convinced that there is a secret list. Roughly 67% of MAGA voters who supported Trump last year, meanwhile, now say they are angry about his inaction.
First-time voters in 2024 are even more downcast, with 71% disapproving of Trump's handling of the issue. Sixty percent of independent voters held similar sentiments. Overall, 63 percent of Americans said they disapprove of Trump's handling of the Epstein case.
Trump had previously suggested that he would make the Epstein files public if he were re-elected. During a July 15 press availability, however, he waved off questions about his name cropping up in the files. He alleged the papers were phony and fabricated by former FBI Director James Comey, President Joe Biden's team, and former President Barack Obama. Trump offered no evidence to support these claims.
According to current President, these files were created by Comey, Obama, and Biden. It's a conspiracy theory like the Russia hoax.
He also sidestepped addressing specifically whether evidence included a mention of his name in the Epstein documents. When questioned whether Attorney General Pam Bondi has informed him about the issue, he replied, "She's given us just a very quick briefing."
Some supporters of President Trump suspect that the list is being concealed by the FBI. A list indeed exists, FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, have said, and they have denounced the "deep state" for hiding the list.
Trump's popularity among voters is being tested as the 2024 election approaches. Most GOP voters still have a favorable impression of him, but his 'KD ratio' is going to dip if he refuses to speak on the Epstein issue.
