Poll: Americans Twice as Likely to Disapprove of Trump’s Handling of Epstein Case
A new national survey shows that Americans are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with President Trump’s handling of the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose 2019 death in federal custody continues to stir public mistrust.
According to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, 56% of respondents say they “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove of how Trump is managing the Epstein investigation. Only 22% say they approve. The remaining respondents were undecided or had no opinion.
Among Republican voters, opinion is more divided. 45% of GOP respondents support the president’s handling of the matter, compared to 25% who disapprove. But the survey revealed important splits within the party particularly by age and political alignment.
Republicans under the age of 45 were notably less supportive than their older counterparts. Only 29% of younger Republicans approved of Trump’s approach, compared to 56% approval among those over 45.
The gap was even more pronounced when factoring in alignment with the MAGA movement. Among Republicans who identify as MAGA, 56% back Trump’s handling of the case, while just 38% of non-MAGA Republicans feel the same.
The Epstein saga has gripped Washington in recent weeks, with the Republican-controlled House opting to go into recess early to sidestep a scheduled vote on releasing Epstein-related documents. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to face mounting questions about transparency and accountability.
Public sentiment appears clear: the overwhelming majority of Americans want to see the full scope of information made public. According to the survey, 89% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans say the federal government should release all Epstein-related documents.
A majority also suspect that key facts are being withheld. Two-thirds of respondents believe the government is covering up evidence in the case including 84% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans.
Only 9% of Americans said they do not believe there is a cover-up, a figure that includes just 3% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans.
The poll surveyed 1,729 U.S. adults from July 18 to 21 and carries a margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points. The findings underscore the extent to which the Epstein investigation remains a political liability and a growing source of public frustration for the Trump White House.