After a rough first month in office – which has seen mass protests, an immigration order which sparked chaos at airports, diplomatic tensions with Australia and the resignation of President Trump’s National Security Advisor – Donald Trump’s biggest supporters are backing him more than ever.
Averages from 27 national presidential favorability polls show a spike in disapproval ratings - but that spike belies another trend: that support for Trump has also risen.
Data revealed that the majority of Trump's backers in last year's bitterly fought elections are content with his performance.
Donald Trump’s supporters appear to see his unconventional and brash style of governing as refreshing. His controversial actions so far have been seen as the direct delivery of campaign promises.
An average of polls from Real Clear Politics shows that America remains as divided as ever. Source: Real Clear Politics
“I am truly amazed at the amount of work he does,” said Trump supporter Carolyn Duggan, who works in Special Education in Tennessee.
Ms Duggan said the president aligned with her Christian values.
“This is not a man who works through committees. He picks up the phone and gets the job done.”
While Mr Trump has been busy signing executive orders, meeting with Heads of State and holding forums with business leaders, many of his promises will require Congress to pass legislation and make budget allocations.
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Donald Trump's escalating assaults on the on the "dishonest media" have also been well received, his supporters perceiving an administration as under siege by sensational and biased reporting.
President Trump's recent remark, in which he , was one such example.
“We all make mistakes or misspeak on some facts,” said Michelle Mesi from Texas.
Michelle Rzewnicki, who works at a wildlife rescue centre in Illinois, said the hysteria was over the top.
“President Trump is being ridiculed and insulted for everything he does,” she said.
Ms Rzewnicki, who backs welfare crackdowns and the rollback of Obamacare, said protestors against Mr Trump are sore losers.
“I didn't riot when Obama won,” she said. “I took it like an adult, not a cry-baby.”
Joe Hession, who works as a janitor in Massachusetts, accused the media of “twisting and nitpicking over the smallest dumb stuff.”
“The other day I saw three of my major local networks run stories on President Trump’s handshakes – like, come on.”
“He could conquer world hunger and major news articles would say ‘Trump skirts out on dessert, leaves billions without chocolate pudding’,” he said.
Several Trump supporters said negative media coverage and hysterical attacks from those who opposed Trump only energised and galvanised their support.
“I think they feel mocked and ridiculed for their voting choice,” said Robert Beckwith from Oklahoma, who said that Trump supporters were no more obstinant than other Americans.
“They just appear more stubborn because they are under attack from half the country and most of the media.”
Joe Hession, who describes himself as a ‘’ and opposes Trump’s rhetoric targeting Muslims, said he doesn’t have a problem the president’s sweeping immigration order blocking immigration from seven Middle East and North African countries.
Trump's combative relationship with the press is viewed as justified by many of his supporters. Source: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
“The travel ban is just that, a travel ban, there are 50 Muslim-majority countries and this travel ban only affects seven of them,” he said.
“Pretty crappy ‘Muslim ban’ if you ask me.”
Mr Hession’s girlfriend Rachel, a strong opponent of President Trump, says his first month in office is what she expected.
“Lots of setbacks and he isn't taking any responsibility and attacking anyone who talks badly about him – like the media,” she said.
is a microcosm of deeply divided country – both have a sharply different view of their Commander in Chief.
“He's an entitled businessman who bit off more than he can chew and refuses to take responsibility for it. He acts as if he's the first president to come in and have to make changes,” Rachel said.
For Trump’s biggest supporters, scandals like the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn after misleading the Vice President haven’t rocked their faith in the administration.
“His advisor resigning doesn't concern me in the least,” Robert Beckwith said.
“All presidents receive many resignations in the first few months”
“He is out the administration and he is gone,” said Annavianna Samuel from North Carolina. “I'm good with it.”
The Hispanic American also has no qualms about President Trump’s immigration policies.
“Illegal is illegal,” he said. “My family got here legally from Mexico.”
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Donald Trump’s voters reject suggestions that their support is blind.
Mr Hessian from Massachusetts said that if the president went through with an earlier campaign promise to force Muslims to sign up to a register, then that would be a deal-breaker.
Mr Samuel from North Carolina said President Trump is exaggerating his difficulty in getting a cabinet approved.
“Obama did not have one together until April,” he said.
Several supporters also said they wished the president would show more restraint on Twitter, though many others said they were big fans of his direct engagement.
“Every Administration deserves the respect for the people that voted it in, but for some reason, it's being denied to this administration,” said Nicole Kinsey, an Australian Trump supporter from Queensland.
“It's very revealing of the mindset behind the hysterical retaliation,” she said.
“Trump just needs to keep pushing ahead and doing what he said he was going to do. And the people will support him. The policies will work, and people will start to notice a difference.”
