Overview
- Gallup, which released its results Wednesday, found 89% of U.S. adults say government corruption is widespread, the highest level in two decades and a 10-point jump from last year.
- A UMass Amherst poll conducted in late August corroborates the alarm with 97% saying there is at least some corruption and 75% saying there is a great deal.
- The jump is driven mainly by Democrats and independents, with Democrats reporting a rise from 57% in 2024 to 91% in 2026 while Republicans remain comparatively steady at about 83%.
- Coverage points to concrete ethics flashpoints that have heightened concern, including President Trump’s large reported personal income in his second term, questions about foreign-linked investments, a scrapped $1.8 billion Justice Department compensation proposal and scrutiny of congressional stock trading.
- Experts say the trend leaves the U.S. out of step with other advanced economies, and it is already shaping politics as Democrats push anti-corruption messages and calls for stronger oversight ahead of congressional races.