Six months in, US President Donald Trump’s approval rating lowest in 70 years

US President Donald Trump leaves the 72nd US Women's Open Golf Championship at Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey, July 15, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

US President Donald Trump’s six-month approval rating is the lowest of any president in polls in 70 years, a new survey shows.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday surveyed people's opinion about Trump’s competence on the world stage, his effectiveness, the GOP healthcare plan as well as his handling of Russia’s alleged role in the 2016 election.

Only 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, down 6 points from his 100-day mark, which itself was a low.

The previous president, whose approval rating was very close to this level at or near six months, was Gerald Ford, who received 39 percent in February 1975.

Sixty-three percent of Americans polled believe it was not appropriate for Trump’s son, son-in-law and campaign manager to have meetings with a Russian lawyer during the campaign for the presidential election last year.

Also, 6 in 10 believe Russia sought to influence the campaign, and among those who believe so, 67 percent say Trump's aides helped, similar to results released in April.

Nonetheless, the Russia controversy is only one of Trump’s troubles. Just 38 percent say he is making significant progress toward his goals, while 55 percent believe otherwise.

Two-thirds do not trust his ability to negotiate with other world leaders specifically with Russian President Vladimir Putin on America’s behalf.

And about half argue that the US leadership has become weaker under Trump, whereas just 27 percent say it has grown stronger.

With regard to his party’s signature campaign issue which is to replace Obamacare, Americans by a 2-1 margin prefer it over the Republican plan, 50-24 percent.

Overall, Trump’s job approval rating, after six months in office, is 4 points lower than his predecessor Barack Obama’s career low, which came in his sixth year, according to the poll.

Forty-eight percent “strongly” disapprove of Trump's job performance, again slightly surpassing the strongest disapproval of Obama’s career, in his fifth year.

The president’s 58 percent overall disapproval is 7 points higher than the next-highest disapproval rating at six months which belongs to President Bill Clinton in 1993, the poll shows.