Here’s what Utah voters say about Trump’s job performance

Yahoo! News - Apr 20th, 2025

President Donald Trump is approaching his 100th day back in the White House, marked by significant actions such as deep funding cuts across federal agencies, a fortified southern border, and the implementation of tariffs affecting both allies and adversaries. Trump expressed pride in his handling of the border situation, citing a dramatic decrease in border apprehensions compared to the previous administration. However, despite being a predominantly Republican state, Utah remains divided on Trump's performance. A poll shows that 54% of Utahns approve of his job so far, while 42% disapprove, reflecting a polarized opinion even within a red state.

The political landscape in Utah further reveals differing levels of approval across party lines, with Republicans largely supporting Trump and his policies, particularly the tariff strategy, which is viewed less favorably by Democrats and independents. The state's reaction highlights the challenges Trump faces in maintaining broad support, especially with potential economic repercussions of his policies becoming apparent. Additionally, Vice President J.D. Vance's approval ratings are mixed, with 47% of Utahns expressing approval and 38% disapproval, suggesting potential concerns for the administration as they approach midterm elections. Political analysts suggest that unless Trump can rally public support with popular policies, his presidency may face increasing unpopularity.

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Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.8

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant discussion of President Trump's job performance as he approaches his 100th day in office, with a focus on Utah's divided opinions. It draws on polling data and expert opinions to present a snapshot of public sentiment. However, the article could benefit from more detailed verification of claims, a wider range of perspectives, and clearer explanations of the methodology behind the data presented. While it addresses topics of public interest and has the potential to influence opinion, its impact is somewhat limited by the lack of depth and engagement. Overall, the article is informative but could be improved with more comprehensive reporting and analysis.

Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims that require verification. For instance, the story mentions that a slight majority of Utahns (54%) approve of Trump's job performance, which aligns with some polling data but may not be consistent across all sources. Additionally, the claim that Trump's border policy has resulted in a significant decrease in apprehensions compared to the previous administration needs to be verified with official border control data. The article also discusses Trump's tariff policy and its perceived economic impact, which is an area that could benefit from more detailed economic analysis and data. Overall, while the article contains factual information, the precision and support for some of these claims are not fully substantiated.

Balance

The article provides perspectives from both supporters and critics of President Trump, mentioning the divided opinion in Utah. However, it leans towards highlighting the approval ratings among Republicans without equally exploring the reasons behind the disapproval from Democrats and Independents. The inclusion of quotes from political science professors adds some balance, but the article could benefit from a more comprehensive exploration of differing viewpoints, particularly from those who oppose Trump's policies.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of information, though some sections could benefit from better organization. The flow of the article is somewhat disrupted by the interjection of various claims that are not always fully explained or contextualized. The language is straightforward, but the lack of clear transitions between different topics and claims can make it challenging for readers to follow the narrative. Overall, while the article is accessible, it could be improved with a more logical structure and clearer explanations.

Source quality

The article references a poll conducted by the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics and includes quotes from political science professors, suggesting a reliance on credible sources. However, it lacks direct citations or links to the original poll data or additional sources that could provide a more robust foundation for the claims made. The use of named experts adds to the credibility, but the article would be stronger with a wider variety of sources and more direct attribution.

Transparency

The article does not provide detailed information about the poll's methodology, such as sample size or margin of error, which affects transparency. While it mentions the source of the poll, it does not explain how the data was collected or any potential biases in the polling process. Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might impact the reporting, leaving readers without a full understanding of the basis for the claims made.