A recent Gallup poll has revealed that Americans place significantly more trust in their local governments than in Congress and the mass media.
According to the survey released on Monday, 67% of respondents expressed a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust and confidence in their local governments to handle local problems.
In contrast, only 34% said the same about Congress, and a mere 31% trusted the mass media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.”
Declining Trust in National Institutions
The poll highlights a continuing trend of declining trust in national institutions.
Trust in state governments stands at 55%, while 54% of Americans have confidence in the American people as a whole to make judgments about the country’s issues.
Trust in other federal entities is notably lower:
- Between 40% and 48% trust the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court.
- Similar percentages trust “men and women in political life,” the federal government’s handling of international problems, and the executive branch led by the president.
- About 40% express trust in President Biden and the executive branch.
These figures are consistent with surveys from the previous year, where trust in Congress and the media stood at 32%.
Partisan Perspectives on Media Trust
The survey uncovers significant partisan differences in trust toward the media:
- Republicans: Only 12% have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in the media.
- Independents: 27% express trust.
- Democrats: 54% trust the media, although this is a decline from previous years.
This gap underscores deep skepticism among Republicans toward mass media outlets. Since 2016, Republican trust in the media has remained low, coinciding with increasing perceptions of media bias.
Age Differences in Trust Levels
Age also plays a role in trust toward the media and government institutions.
An analysis shows a 17-percentage-point gap in media trust between older Americans (65 and older) and those under 50—43% versus 26%, respectively.
Notably, young Democrats (aged 18 to 29) trust the media far less (31%) than older Democrats (74% among those 65 and older).
Local and State Governments Viewed Favorably
Local and state governments are the most trusted among ten U.S. civic and political institutions involved in the democratic process:
- Local Government: 67% express trust to handle local problems.
- State Government: 55% trust their state government to address state issues.
- American People: 54% trust the public’s judgment on national issues.
Conversely, the mass media and the legislative branch are the least trusted institutions, with trust levels at 31% and 34%, respectively.
Implications for Governance
The persistent low levels of trust in Congress and the media may have significant implications for national governance and public discourse.
The higher trust in local and state governments suggests that Americans feel more connected to institutions closer to their communities.
The findings reflect an increasingly polarized political climate, with incumbent senators and representatives battling to retain their seats amid widespread skepticism.
Survey Methodology
The Gallup poll was conducted between September 3 and 15, surveying 1,007 U.S. adults. The margin of error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.