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The public strongly approves of President Donald Trump’s leadership choices so far, according to a new study by Morning Consult survey.
All but one of his current leaders have a positive rating, except Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz who has been nominated as Attorney General.
“Trump’s 54% transition approval rating is only slightly less than how voters rated Biden’s four years ago, when 60% approved. Trump’s current approval rating is bolstered by backing from 1 in 5 Democrats, more independents than not and more than 9 in 10 Republican voters,” Morning Consult found.
“Trump’s intent to nominate former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general is disapproved of by 41% of voters, compared with 34% who approve. He is the only current nominee to face more opposition than support,” it continued.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who some suspect will face challenges during his Senate confirmation, also received strong ratings in the survey.
“Voters are more likely to approve than disapprove of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services (44% to 39%), though only about 2 in 5 voters said they have seen, read or heard ‘a lot’ about it,” Morning Consult added.
The study also addressed concerns of some Republican senators who may seek to slow down or block the confirmation of some Trump nominees.
“The president-elect is enjoying some initial deference from the American people about the way he’s handling his transition and the names he’s choosing to fill his government,” the survey said.
“For Republican senators, Trump’s standing and the popularity of his nominees with the Republican base they’re so focused on leaves little political incentive to defy the incoming president,” it continued.
The findings come even as Trump has selected his leadership team more quickly than previous presidents.
Trump has already announced about 20 Cabinet members and White House roles in the past two weeks, far outpacing his first term, President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama.
“He certainly knows the ropes and I guess in some ways, he kind of knows the dopes. He knows who he likes and knows who he doesn’t. He knows what he wants to accomplish,” Republican consultant Matt Mowers told Fox News.
“It shows that they recognize that with only four guaranteed years, they have to make an impact starting on day one. So it’s one of the reasons why they’ve chosen candidates at the speed he has and really started to announce policy at the speed he has – because they know they only have four years to really fundamentally guarantee a change of direction of the country based on what he campaigned on,” he added.