89% Americans Believe US Govt Is Corrupt, Record High Since Trump’s Return

Nearly nine in 10 Americans believe corruption is “widespread” in the US government, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday, with the share reaching a record high after President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The survey found that 89% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in government, up from 73% in 2024 and 10 percentage points higher than last year. The question has been asked by Gallup in various forms since 2006, but the latest figure marks a sharp rise in public perceptions of corruption.

The increase has been particularly pronounced among Democrats. As many as 91% of Democrats said corruption is widespread in government, compared with 57% in 2024. Among independents, the figure rose to 90% from 78% over the same

period.

The question does not mention Trump by name. However, Gallup noted that the rise in the number of Americans who see widespread corruption has come as Trump has returned to office.

The findings also point to a broader erosion of confidence in institutions. Seventy-one per cent of respondents said corruption is widespread in American business, up from 59% in 2024.

The 89% figure puts the United States among a small group of countries where such a large share of people have reported seeing widespread corruption in their own governments. Since 2023, only Lebanon, Ghana, Nigeria and Peru had recorded similarly high levels, according to Gallup.

Trump And Corruption Allegations

The poll comes as Trump has faced a series of allegations and controversies over potential conflicts of interest and the use of his office since returning to the White House.

One such controversy involved a super-luxury Boeing 747 offered by Qatar’s royal family for use by the US president. Trump described the aircraft as a gift at no cost to the United States, while former US Air Force officials said it could require hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded upgrades before it could be used as Air Force One.

The issue drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, adding to questions around the intersection of Trump’s presidency, his business interests and wealthy foreign benefactors.

The poll does not, however, establish a direct link between Americans’ growing perception of government corruption and any specific Trump administration controversy.