Ipsos poll: Trump’s sickness makes him harder to trust

October 21, 2020
Data: Axios/Ipsos poll; Note: ±3.3% margin of error; Chart: Axios Visuals
Data: Axios/Ipsos poll; Note: ±3.3% margin of error; Chart: Axios Visuals

Large shares of women, seniors and independents now say they’re less likely to trust President Trump for accurate information about COVID-19 since he caught it himself, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

The big picture: Week 28 of our national survey has most Americans rejecting ideas that Trump has floated around hydroxychloriquine as a virus treatment, how herd immunity works or any imminent availability of a vaccine.

  • Eight in 10 fear local cases will rise and force new lockdowns and business closures.
  • Three-fourths of respondents say attending campaign rallies is risky.
  • That’s true for majorities of Republicans (54%) as well as independents (79%) and especially Democrats (93%) — and it suggests that Joe Biden’s decision to scrap large events to protect the public and himself doesn’t carry much political risk.

Why it matters: Trump can ill afford to lose more women, seniors or independents with two weeks until the end of the election, according to national and battleground state polls.

  • The new findings reflect how the science around coronavirus is unifying Democrats but a wedge for Republicans — and how Trump’s own messaging has painted him into a corner where he must rely more and more on his base to pick up the slack for others he’s alienated.
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