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New Poll Shows the Growing Strength of the Resistance and Donald Trump Should Be Very Worried

Numbers don't lie.

New Poll Shows the Growing Strength of the Resistance and Donald Trump Should Be Very Worried
US President Donald Trump January 14, 2018. (Photo credit NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

One year into Donald Trump's presidency, Americans feel more positive about the economy but worse about the state of the country overall. That lack of confidence closely ties to views of the president himself.

66 percent of Americans say the country's economy is healthy. But 75 percent call the country divided. 60 percent lack confidence in the U.S. political system. 60 percent also say racial tensions increased.


Trump's strongest backers characterize things as going well. But his opponents, who grew increasingly opposed over the year, hold an entirely different opinion. Overall, the number of Americans saying Donald Trump as president makes them feel "pessimistic" ranks higher than a year ago.

A  study by YouGov began analyzing four groups this time last year: the strongest of Trump backers - labeled "believers"; those who support only if he delivers what they want - labeled "conditionals"; those opposing Trump but willing to back him if things change - labeled "curious"; and those firmly opposed to Trump - labeled "resisters."

CBS News YouGov poll results (Photo CBS News)

Overall, the movement over the year included a slow shift away from President Trump. That movement ran across the four groups: the believers, the conditionals, the curious and the resisters.

The number of believers shrunk from 22 percent to 18 percent. The number of strong opponents "resisters" grew from 35 percent to 41 percent.

The president's believers feel the country is "run for the benefit of all the people." But others say the country is being run "for the benefit of a few elites." 49 percent expressed that sentiment.

CBS News YouGov poll results (Photo CBS News)

The president's approach to issues and how he conducts himself personally appeals to his supporters. Belivers back him more for "being a different kind of president" and for "taking on the establishment" than for economic or policy reasons. Trump's strongest backers see political fights, such as investigating Hillary Clinton, as a top priority in 2018, but only believers think so. Conditional backers disagree. Only believers view Trump as a role model at a rate of 80 percent. More than 50 percent of conditional supporters specify Trump is not a role model.

70 percent say a primary reason they don't support Trump is he's disrespected people like them. Most also oppose his policies.

Both support and opposition to the president connects to people feeling like they have a voice in what happens to the country. Mr. Trump's believers feel they do, but resisters feel they have less of a voice now than they did before Trump.

CBS News YouGov poll results (Photo CBS News)

55 percent of Americans think Donald Trump's response to criticism is arguing, but 73 percent of resisters see Trump trying to suppress the views of those who disagree with him.

A majority of Americans, regardless of their opinion on Trump's behavior, feel what you see is what you get with Trump. How he acts in public matches behind the scenes.

More than 80 percent of Americans, re-contacted for a poll after Mr. Trump's comments about U.S. immigration from African countries and Haiti, indicated they heard about his "s-hole" comments. 76 percent say the remarks were inappropriate. Almost all Democrats, nearly 80 percent of independents and 45 percent of Republicans consider Trump's words inappropriate.