Topline
According to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of Americans, President Joe Biden's approval rating for his job has dropped to the lowest level since his presidency. The poll found that Americans are increasingly concerned about the direction the country is going. This is because Biden has been overseeing a US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. This has drawn harsh criticism.
On Aug. 16, 2021, President Joe Biden spoke about Afghanistan from the East Room at the White House... [+] in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Key Facts
Despite still having the support of most Americans, 54% of respondents to the poll approve of Biden's performance. However, it is the lowest rating in any of seven AP-NORC polls about Biden's approval of his job during his presidency. This is a 9-point decrease from Biden's 63% approval rating in a poll conducted in April/early May. Biden is now at sea in foreign policy approval, with 51% disapproving. But, the poll shows that it's not only the withdrawal from Afghanistan which has Americans losing faith in the president. Biden has taken a huge hit in his handling of the coronavirus epidemic, with 54% approving. This is a significant drop from the 66% approval he received in the July AP–NORC poll, and almost 20 points below the 73% rating he got in March before the spread of the Delta variant plunged large swathes back into crisis. Biden's approval rating for the economy is also at its lowest point. It was 49%, compared to 60% in March. The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,729 Americans from Aug. 12-16.
What we don't know
This poll represents the first public opinion data about Biden since Afghanistan was overthrown by the Taliban. However, it is not clear how much of the polling was conducted before Aug. 15, when Kabul fell to the Taliban.
Important Background
The AP-NORC poll is the latest to show Biden's approval rating falling. This was happening even before the U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan resulted in the Taliban taking control of the country in just 11 days. Biden's fall from Afghanistan is the biggest criticism since his election as president. Media, pundits, and political rivals have questioned Biden's judgement in withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. This left thousands of Americans and their Afghan allies in Kabul, where they were forced to flee the Taliban's rule. Domestically, Covid cases are on the rise due to the delta variant. Some states like Florida now have record numbers of deaths and hospitalizations. But Florida Gov. But Florida Governor. Biden ordered the Department of Education on Wednesday to "assess every available tool" to ensure that governors were "not standing in their way" of safety for children in schools.
What to Watch
Biden pledged Friday that the U.S. would expel all Afghan citizens who want to flee Afghanistan. Biden stated that while he cannot predict the outcome or whether it will be without loss, he is the commander-in-chief and can guarantee that he will mobilize all resources.
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Biden calls Kabul evacuations dangerous, vows to rescue Americans and Afghans (Forbes).
Pentagon Unsure of How Many Americans Are Still in Afghanistan (Forbes).
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