A new survey reveals that a majority of Americans view using campaign funds for personal legal issues and defying subpoenas as among the most unacceptable actions a president could take.
The YouGov survey asked respondents to evaluate 26 potential presidential behaviors, rating them as either acceptable or unacceptable. The results show strong disapproval for a president who uses campaign money for personal legal expenses, with 78% of Americans condemning this as unacceptable. Similarly, 69% of Americans find it unacceptable for a president to ignore subpoenas.
Other presidential actions deemed inappropriate by a significant portion of the public include attempting to serve more than the constitutionally allowed number of terms (68%), pressuring the Department of Justice to investigate political opponents (67%), and using taxpayer dollars for personal or political gain (66%).
On the other hand, actions that are less likely to raise concerns among Americans include using social media for policy announcements. Only 40% of respondents found this behavior unacceptable, while holding official meetings at private venues was deemed inappropriate by 41%. Additionally, 42% of Americans disapprove of presidents using social media for official communications.
The survey also highlights a notable divide between Democrats and Republicans regarding what constitutes unacceptable behavior from a president. Democrats generally show greater disapproval of these actions, with over 80% condemning the use of federal funds for political purposes, limiting press access, or appointing family members to high-ranking positions. In contrast, fewer than half of Republicans find these actions unacceptable.
The most striking difference is seen in the reaction to the Trump administration’s suspension of federal grants and loans, which 84% of Democrats viewed as unacceptable, but only 18% of Republicans agreed with.
This survey, conducted with 2,167 respondents from January 28 to February 3, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.