Most Americans Think Trump Is Profiting From the Presidency Illegally or Unethically, Poll Finds
New polling shows that Americans see the President focused far more on his business interests than on people like them.
A recent poll conducted by AP-NORC reveals that most Americans believe former U.S. President Donald Trump is profiting illegally or unethically while in office. The survey of 2,140 adults, conducted from September 24 to 28, 2026, found that 40% of respondents think Trump has done something illegal, while another 18% see his actions as unethical, but not illegal.
The poll also indicates that Trump is perceived as prioritizing his business interests over the nation. Sixty-six percent of respondents believe he has prioritized his personal business a lot, with only 23% saying he has prioritized the country overall, and 11% stating he prioritizes people like them.
Republicans were more likely than Democrats or Independents to say the president prioritizes the country. However, most Republicans also claimed that Trump has done nothing wrong or that they lack sufficient knowledge to judge. Raymond La Raja, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-director of the UMass Poll, attributes the unprecedented wealth increase Trump has experienced over the past two years to conflict-of-interest concerns, particularly regarding his crypto ventures.
A separate August poll conducted by UMass Amherst revealed that 75% of respondents perceived significant corruption in the federal government, with 53% ranking the presidency as the most corrupt institution. A majority (54%) agreed that it is definitely corrupt for a public official to use their office for personal or family financial gain, even if it is legal.
Recently released polling data shows that just 28% of respondents approved of Trump's handling of jobs and the economy. Reasons for low approval include the rise in consumer prices due to tariffs and the U.S. war with Iran, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's estimate that tariffs added 2.9 percentage points to inflation by February 2026.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted a month before the midterm elections, where the Republican Party aims to retain its majorities in the House and Senate. Experts believe that dissatisfaction with Trump could impact Republican candidates, particularly among independents and suburban voters. Despite the controversy surrounding Trump's wealth, past polls have shown that voters often judge presidential ethics through a partisan lens.
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