Americans' declining trust in government, each other • A P…

Americans' declining trust in government, each other

• A Pew Research Center report indicates that a significant majority of Americans perceive a decline in trust towards the federal government (75%) and among fellow citizens (64%).

• Respondents attribute the decrease in trust in the federal government over the past two decades to factors such as government performance (36%), concerns about corruption and corporate influence, and specific references to President Trump and the media.

• Those who believe interpersonal trust has declined point to societal issues like increased laziness, greed, and dishonesty, with 49% citing that people are less reliable than before.

• About 64% of Americans feel that low trust in the federal government complicates problem-solving on issues like immigration, healthcare, racism, and gun violence, while 70% believe low interpersonal trust also hinders solutions.

• Despite the decline in trust, 84% of Americans think it is possible to improve confidence in the government through reforms like increased transparency, term limits, and reduced corporate influence; 86% believe interpersonal trust can be enhanced through community efforts and better leadership.

• Trust levels vary significantly across demographics, with nonwhites, poorer and less-educated individuals, and younger adults showing lower personal trust, while older, more educated, and higher-income individuals tend to have higher trust levels.

• A classification of trust levels reveals that 22% of adults are "high trusters," 35% are "low trusters," and 41% are "medium trusters," with notable differences in trust levels across racial and age groups.

• Majorities believe that the federal government (69%) and news media (61%) withhold important information, with skepticism about transparency correlating with lower trust levels.

• Democrats express greater concern about declining trust compared to Republicans, but both parties agree on the necessity of improving trust in government and among citizens.

• Trust-related issues are not seen as top national problems; however, 41% consider the lack of confidence in the federal government a "very big problem," while only 25% feel the same about interpersonal trust, highlighting broader concerns about the effects of distrust on societal issues.