Americans see sprawling government corruption, poll finds

Almost nine in every ten Americans believe that government corruption is widespread, according to recent Gallup polling - a 10 percentage point jump in the past year, the highest level in two decades. This surge has been particularly driven by Democrats, with 57% expressing that corruption is common during Joe Biden's final year, a 34-point increase since Donald Trump's second term began.

While more than eight in ten Republicans also agree, their views have been more stable, implying party allegiance doesn't influence GOP members' perspectives. Democrats aim to leverage this issue for the midterms, accusing former President Trump of personal gain through office use. However, fewer Americans - just seven in ten - view corruption as rampant in the business sector.

The US stands out as an outlier among advanced economies for the high proportion of its adults perceiving government corruption.