U.S. President Joe Biden faces a slump in the summer, with Americans expressing a remarkably less positive view of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and approval of his generally declining work slightly.
A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research concludes that 54% of Americans approve of Biden’s management, compared to 59% last month. Although this represents a relatively good rate for a president in his first year in office, given the country’s deep political polarization, it is a worrying indication for Biden when he faces the most difficult challenges so far in his presidency. of national and foreign policy.
The biggest warning sign for the president in the poll is focused on his handling of the epidemic. Last month, 66% of Americans approved of their response to the public health crisis, but now the number has dropped to 54%, driven somewhat by a fall in the gap between Republicans and independents.
Such a decline coincides with other storm clouds hovering over Biden’s presidency, especially the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan with the withdrawal of U.S. troops and when the Taliban reaffirms its control of the country.
The poll, held August 12-16, when news of the Taliban’s arrival in Kabul was widely reported in the United States, shows that Americans are evenly divided on foreign policy management. by Biden (47% approve, 51% disapprove) and national security (52% approve, 46% disapprove).
Biden’s national agenda also faces an uncertain future at the Capitol, with Democratic leaders trying to resolve divisions in the party over a couple of infrastructure bills and little indication of progress on voting rights measures and police reform.
Still, Biden advisers think his presidency will most likely rise or fall based on his handling of the pandemic. Until early summer, the White House was basically declaring victory over the virus, supporting the lifting of restrictions and encouraging vaccinated Americans to return to normal. Polls then showed that Biden was praised for his approach not only by Democrats but also by a good portion of Republicans.
But part of that support has been dangerously eroded with the spread of the more contagious delta virus variant, fears about the virus and stagnation of vaccination rates in the country.