Public trust in government shifts depending on which party holds power, poll shows

The Brief

Americans’ trust in the federal government remains near historic lows.

Confidence is much higher among the president’s supporters than among opponents or independents.

Trust in government now depends largely on which party holds power.

WASHINGTON - Americans’ confidence in federal government institutions remains near historic lows.

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According to a recent Gallup poll, big differences in trust between political parties help explain why overall public trust in government has dropped over time. People who support the president’s party tend to show much higher trust in government, while those from the opposing party show much less.

In recent decades, trust among the opposition — whether Democrats during Republican presidencies or Republicans during Democratic ones