According to a latest survey, the public has stopped believing in United States President Joe Biden's capacity to convey precise information regarding the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
One of Biden's primary efforts throughout his administration has been to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a new poll reveals that many Americans are doubting his authority on the novel coronavirus, as COVID-19 mortality in the U.S. continue to exceed 2,000 per day.
In the latest Axios/IPSOS Coronavirus Index poll, more than 50% of those polled - 55% - indicated they have little or no faith in the president to provide them with reliable information on the virus and pandemic, while 45% said they do.
The study indicated that 58% trusted Biden to offer factual information on the pandemic when he assumed office in January.
Biden's popularity has been on the slide since late May, the poll shows. His recent decision to implement vaccine mandates for federal government employees and private-sector workers may have hastened the loss.
That's a change from last December, when Biden declared he wouldn't push for obligatory COVID-19 vaccinations. Nonetheless, Democrats were far more likely than Republicans and independents to believe Biden on COVID-19; 81% said they trust him on the pandemic, compared to just 11% of Republicans and 42% of independents.
In a statement, Cliff Young, president of IPSOS U.S. public relations, said, "He won on COVID-19, he surfed the first six months on the crisis, but he's being tested by it now because there's no clear conclusion in sight."
More than anxiety, the recent data hint to malaise. Malaise, on the other hand, may portend difficulty for a Democratic president who campaigned on a promise to lead the country out of disaster -- and whose party's bare House and Senate majorities are on the line in the next elections.
As the pandemic has continued on into its second year, Americans in the survey have indicated rising disdain for numerous authority figures in regards to the virus.
Only 64% and 50% of people have faith in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state governments, respectively.
That's hardly unexpected, given the conflicting messages about whether or not to wear face masks during the pandemic, as well as misunderstanding about vaccination booster shots and the president's contentious coronavirus vaccine requirements for millions of American employees.
