US Politics
Trump saw little to no bounce in his approval ratings in the immediate aftermath of DC dinner shooting
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President Donald Trump’s approval ratings saw little to no bounce in the days following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, according to multiple national polls.
Some political experts wondered whether Trump may receive a short-term boost in public support in the aftermath of the April 25 incident at the Washington Hilton, according to Mediaite. But polling in the week and a half since the event suggests that has not happened.
Trump’s approval rating was essentially unchanged in the days after the shooting, slipping from 39 percent to 38 percent, according to The New York Times polling average.
Other national surveys conducted in the immediate aftermath of the incident showed similar results.
That includes Rasmussen Reports, a polling firm that is generally viewed as leaning more in favor of Trump than others. It showed the president’s approval rating falling from 44 percent the day after the shooting to 41 percent by today, Wednesday, May 6.
The firm’s “approval index,” which tracks voters who “strongly approve” versus “strongly disapprove,” also dropped five points, it was reported.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting last month marked a rare public appearance for Trump at the annual event, which he had skipped during his presidency in the past.
Trump attended alongside first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance before gunfire erupted, ultimately canceling the event.
Police later arrested 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California in connection with the shooting.
Allen had allegedly written an ardent anti-Trump manifesto and marveled at the lack of security at the Washington Hilton shortly before he’s accused of opening fire.
The lack of a polling bounce contrasts sharply with the aftermath of the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During that rally, Trump was grazed in the ear by a bullet after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, killing Trump supporter Corey Comperatore.
Images of Trump raising his fist and mouthing “fight, fight, fight” as Secret Service agents rushed him offstage quickly became a defining moment of the campaign.
After that shooting, polls showed Trump gaining ground in several swing states, with ABC News noting that he reached his highest approval rating in four years.
But political experts note that the situations are very different. In 2024, Trump was a candidate campaigning against then-President Joe Biden, who was within days of withdrawing from the race.
Now, Trump is an incumbent president dealing with ongoing concerns about the economy, including rising gas prices, which shot from $4.09 per gallon to $4.56 as of Wednesday, according to Gas Buddy.
Trump is also dealing with weak support among independents and even some allies.
“You’re effed!” if those numbers don’t improve, pro-Trump commentator Megyn Kelly recently said in response to the poll results.