Majority disapprove of Trump’s handling of Epstein Files: Emerson College Polling survey

The poll, which will be released in its entirety on Friday, shows just 16% of those surveyed approve of the Trump administration’s handling of the files, while 51% disapprove.

Additionally, voters are split on whether they believe Epstein was murdered or died by suicide in a New York jail back in 2016. Forty-two percent of voters say they believe Epstein was murdered, while 38% are unsure and 20% believe he committed suicide.

Forty percent of Republicans surveyed said they believe Epstein was murdered, and 41% are unsure.

The survey of 1,400 registered voters also found that “threats to democracy” is a rising issue for voters, with 23% saying it is the most important issue facing the United States. The top issue remains the economy at 31%, however, that has dropped 10 points since March.

Despite the issues surrounding the economy and the Epstein Files, President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains largely unchanged at 46% approving. The percentage of voters who disapprove has risen from 41% in January to 47% in the latest Emerson College Polling survey.

Democrats are also continuing to hold a slim lead in the generic congressional ballot tracking, with a 44% to 42% lead in July.

The top presidential candidates for 2028 were also surveyed, with Vice President J.D. Vance narrowly leading three of the top potential Democratic Party candidates: former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and California Governor Gavin Newsom (D).

Spencer Kimball, Director of Emerson College Polling, and Chris Berg, Political Content Director for Nexstar Media Group, discuss the poll’s findings in this week’s episode of Political Power Ranker.

Each week, Chris and Spencer will examine who’s up and who’s down in the world of politics based on the latest data from Emerson College Polling, focusing on the states and races that impact the national picture.