40% of Americans want Donald Trump impeached: poll

The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll,
conducted between Aug. 2-8, found that seven per
cent of Republicans supported impeachment (up
three percentage points since February), while 72
per cent of Democrats backed his exit.
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The PRRI elaborated, noting that women (47 per
cent) are more likely than men (32 per cent) to
support the impeachment of Trump. Black
Americans are most supportive of the idea at 72
per cent, while 53 per cent of those from a
Hispanic background back impeachment.
White evangelical Protestants are not enthusiastic
about the idea of impeaching the president, with 79
per cent saying they’re against it.
The institute also found that the president’s
favourability rating is now 38 per cent, with 56 per
cent of Americans holding an unfavourable view of
the leader.
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Charlottesville response
The poll, which shows growing disapproval of the
president, was conducted before widespread outcry
over his reaction to the weekend’s violence in
Charlottesville, Va.
Trump was first criticized for his delay and lack of
conviction in speaking out against a gathering of
white supremacists, which included neo-Nazis,
skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members.
On Monday, he spoke once again, individually
calling out and denouncing the groups involved. On
Tuesday, he returned to his original messaging in a
derailed press conference that was meant to be
about infrastructure. Trump claimed both the “alt-
right” and “alt-left” were to blame for the conflict,
which left one woman dead.
READ MORE: 6 highlights from Donald Trump’s
derailed press conference
A separate poll, conducted by CBS News, found
that 55 per cent of Americans disapproved of
Trump’s response to the weekend’s protests, while
34 per cent approved.
Most Republicans (67 per cent) approved of the
president’s message, while only 10 per cent of
Democrats agreed with his statements.
WATCH: Trump’s controversial comments about
Charlottesville at Tuesday’s press conference
CBS News noted that interviewing for the poll
began one night before Trump’s Tuesday press
conference, and but continued two days following
it.
About 44 respondents in the poll said they believe
Trump’s policies have encouraged “racial division,”
while 12 per cent said he’s encouraged “racial
unity. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents said
Trump has had “not much effect.”

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