Americans hold Trump and GOP responsible for government shutdown
A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll reveals that nearly half of Americans hold President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans primarily responsible for the ongoing government shutdown
CHICAGO, United States (MNTV) – A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll reveals that nearly half of Americans hold President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans primarily responsible for the ongoing government shutdown.
With hundreds of thousands of federal workers going unpaid, the survey shows a clear partisan divide, with independents faulting Republicans over Democrats by a two-to-one margin as the impasse continues.
Demonstrators gather at Butler Field in Grant Park for the “No Kings! Rally and March” on October 18, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Thousands are expected to join the peaceful protest against the Trump administration’s policies, including ICE arrests and authoritarian measures, organized by Indivisible Lincoln Square and the No Kings Network.
According to the recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey, a plurality of Americans place the primary blame for the prolonged government shutdown on President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.
The poll, conducted as the funding lapse approaches one month, indicates that 45% of U.S. adults attribute responsibility to the GOP, while 33% chiefly fault congressional Democrats for the political stalemate.
The partisan split becomes even more pronounced among independent voters, who represent a crucial swing demographic. Within this group, respondents were twice as likely to assign blame to Republicans compared to Democrats.
This finding suggests that the political fallout from the shutdown may disproportionately impact the GOP’s standing with unaffiliated voters.
Public anxiety over the shutdown’s consequences is significant and growing. The survey data show that three-quarters of American adults report being “very” or “somewhat concerned” about the ongoing disruption.
Economic anxiety appears most acute among low-income households and self-identified Democrats, reflecting the uneven impact of the government closure on different segments of the population.
The political deadlock stems from a disagreement over government funding that expired on October 1, primarily centered on Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has publicly asserted that “the shutdown is on Donald Trump’s back,” while Republicans like Senator John Barrasso have countered that Democrats are engaging in “dangerous political games” by refusing their terms.
The survey of 2,725 adults has a margin of error of ±1.9 percentage points, and if the shutdown continues until November 5, it will become the longest in U.S. history.
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