RNA - Just 24 percent of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction, a 10-point drop since June, according to the survey by The Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The rise in pessimism about the country's path is particularly evident among members of Trump’s own political party. In June, 60 percent of Republicans said the US was headed in the right direction; now it is only 44 percent.
The broader picture for Trump is grim as well. More than 60 percent of Americans disapprove of how he is handling race relations, foreign policy and immigration, among other issues. Nearly 70 percent say the president is not level-headed, and majorities say he is not honest or a strong leader.
Overall, 67 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, including about one-third of Republicans.
The decline in optimism comes after a turbulent summer for Trump that included a major White House shake-up, bringing the departure of his chief of staff, press secretary and top strategist. He had already fired his national security adviser in February and the previous FBI director in May.
Trump stirred up numerous controversies in the summer, including when he blamed "both sides" for the deadly clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters during a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Trump has also raised the specter of a military conflict with North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs. He threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea during a speech last month at the United Nations and derided its leader, Kim Jong-un, as a "rocket man."
Americans have even less esteem for Congress than Trump, with just 18 percent saying they approve of the job being done by lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Americans are not happy with his progress on health care either; 68 percent disapprove of his handling of the issue. The GOP failure on health care has irritated Trump, who promised voters that repealing "Obamacare" would be easy.
The poll also found that 92 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Independents say Trump does not understand the problems of people like them. Even among Republicans, only 42 percent say he understands them very well.
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