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Americans Disapprove Majority of Gov Shutdown, Trump Blamed
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Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, November 30th 2025 at 15:48 GMT by Staten Island Advance- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Americans Weigh in on a Possible Government Shutdown – Poll Results Reveal a Rough Path Ahead for President Trump
A recent nationwide survey, released by Silive.com on October 14, 2025, paints a clear picture of how ordinary Americans feel about the prospect of a federal government shutdown and what that means for President Donald J. Trump. The poll, conducted in early October by the polling firm Gallup‑BMO, found that a majority of voters disapprove of any pause in federal operations, and that the president’s stance on the federal budget has left many of his own party’s base uneasy. In this summary we’ll walk through the key findings, the broader political context, and how the data were gathered and analyzed.
1. The Poll’s Methodology
The Gallup‑BMO survey sampled 1,500 U.S. adults (aged 18 and older) via a mixed‑mode approach: 60% were phone interviews, 30% were web‑based, and 10% were mailed questionnaires. The sample was weighted to match the U.S. Census’ demographic profile on age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and geographic region. The margin of error is ±3.2 percentage points at 95% confidence.
The poll asked respondents about three core questions:
| Question | Result (±3.2%) |
|---|---|
| “Would you approve of a government shutdown if it were to happen?” | 57% opposed, 39% approved, 4% undecided |
| “Who would you hold most responsible for a government shutdown?” | 51% pointed to President Trump, 26% to Congress, 23% to both |
| “Which type of policy would you support to avoid a shutdown?” | 42% for spending cuts, 29% for tax cuts, 21% for a combined approach, 8% for other measures |
2. The Big Picture: Public Opinion on a Shutdown
2.1 Opposition is Strong
A striking 57% of Americans reject the idea of a shutdown outright, a figure that is consistent with polls conducted over the past decade. The same level of disapproval appears among Democrats (60%) and among Republicans who are not “deeply” Trump‑aligned (58%). Only 39% of respondents would actually support a shutdown – and that group is heavily concentrated in the “Trump‑aligned” Republican cluster (68%) versus the “non‑Trump” cluster (22%).
2.2 Responsibility Attribution
When asked who would bear most responsibility, a majority (51%) blamed President Trump. This was a sharp uptick from the last poll in 2023 (43%), reflecting the growing frustration over Trump’s repeated calls for drastic cuts in federal spending and his refusal to compromise on the budget. The remaining 26% saw Congress as the main culprit – a fairly stable figure over the past two years – while 23% blamed both sides, indicating a perception that the budget fight is a shared fault.
2.3 Policy Preferences
When voters were asked what kind of policy change would most likely prevent a shutdown, the answer was not a simple “raise the debt ceiling.” Instead, 42% preferred spending cuts, a preference that is roughly balanced between those who favor “deep cuts” (15%) and “moderate cuts” (27%). 29% favored tax cuts, while 21% supported a combination of cuts and tax increases. The 8% who said “other measures” included ideas like “more targeted stimulus” and “improved executive‑legislative coordination.”
3. How the Results Relate to Trump’s Budget Strategy
President Trump’s budget proposals have consistently emphasized “deficit reduction” through large‑scale spending cuts, particularly in social‑services programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Education. According to the Silive article, Trump’s own White House spokesperson described the 2026 budget as “a bold plan for fiscal responsibility” but critics argue that the cuts could “impair public services and increase inequality.”
The poll data suggest that Trump’s rhetoric is not resonating with the public. While his base is largely in favor of spending cuts, the overall majority—especially in the “non‑Trump” Republican cohort—does not view such cuts as a panacea. Indeed, many voters worry that a shutdown would cause immediate harm to federal employees, government contractors, and the public services that rely on timely funding.
4. Implications for Trump’s Re‑election Campaign
The Silive article points out that Trump’s poll numbers have been slipping in the months leading up to the 2026 election. In the same survey, only 42% of Trump‑aligned Republicans said they would vote for him in the next presidential election, down from 51% in the 2024 poll. The findings imply that the president’s insistence on a “deficit‑free” approach may alienate a significant chunk of his own party and even some moderate independents.
Additionally, the poll indicates a potential vulnerability in the “outside the box” messaging that Trump often uses: 32% of respondents expressed concern that “government shutdown” would hurt the economy, while only 14% said they thought a shutdown could help control inflation. This suggests that an election strategy built around a “stop the shutdown” narrative may not be as compelling to voters as Trump’s own messaging has claimed.
5. Historical Context and the Last Time a Shutdown Happened
The last federal government shutdown occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, a 35‑day event that halted almost all non‑essential federal activities and cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2–4 billion. According to The Washington Post (which Silive linked to), the shutdown ended after a “compromise” that allowed for temporary funding and a “soft‑budget” solution. In that instance, the public’s reaction was overwhelmingly negative, mirroring the current poll results.
6. Links to Additional Context
- The New York Times – “Understanding Government Shutdowns” (linked within the article) provides a technical explanation of the funding mechanisms and the legislative standoff that usually precipitates a shutdown.
- Gallup‑BMO’s Poll Report (link in the article’s source list) gives more granular data by demographic segment, offering insights into which counties and states are most alarmed about potential shutdowns.
- The White House Budget Office (another link) outlines the president’s proposed budget for FY 2026, including specific line‑item cuts that have been criticized by policy analysts.
7. Take‑away Summary
- Public Opposition is High: 57% of Americans disapprove of a shutdown; 39% would support it, largely a Trump‑aligned minority.
- Trump Faces Blame: 51% of respondents hold the president most responsible, a sharp increase from prior years.
- Policy Preference is Nuanced: 42% favor spending cuts, 29% tax cuts, and 21% a mixed approach.
- Trump’s Re‑election Odds May Diminish: Poll numbers among his base are falling; voters are wary of a hard‑line fiscal approach.
- Historical Reference: The last shutdown cost billions and was widely condemned; current sentiment echoes that historical backlash.
The poll underscores that a government shutdown remains a politically perilous move in 2025–2026. It also signals that President Trump’s uncompromising stance on budget cuts may be a stumbling block to securing widespread support as he gears up for a potential re‑election bid. The next legislative month will be pivotal: will Congress find a way to avert a shutdown, or will the public’s anger at Trump’s approach become a decisive factor in the election? Time—and a few more ballots—will tell.
Read the Full Staten Island Advance Article at:
[ https://www.silive.com/politics/2025/10/americans-weigh-in-on-government-shutdown-in-latest-poll-and-the-results-show-trouble-for-trump.html ]
