Trump's poll numbers decline, but Americans feel good about economy

July 17 (UPI) -- More Americans are critical of President Donald Trump's leadership qualities than they are of his policies, a Gallup survey released Monday says.

Forty percent of surveyed adults say they agree with Trump on issues but only 34 percent say he has the personality and leadership qualities a president should have. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush consistently scored higher in personality and leadership than on issue agreement when each was president.

The 40 percent rating by those who agree with Trump on issues is among the lowest given to presidents since the survey began. Typically, fewer than half of respondents agree with any president on issues, given divides between political parties, the survey said.

Trump's job approval rating in the Gallup survey was 38 percent. Self-identified Republicans agree with Trump on issues, with 87 percent saying they approve, but only 75 percent say he has the personality and leadership qualities the position demands. Only 35 percent agree with Trump on issues and 25 percent approve of his personality and leadership. Among Democrats, six percent approve of Trump in either category.

The Gallup poll was based on telephone interviews conducted from June 7-11 and from July 5-9, with a random sample of 2,030 adults. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points.

Another survey showed more optimism.

The Blomberg National Poll, released Monday, said 58 percent of respondents believed they are moving closer to their own career and financial aspirations. A majority expects the U.S. stock market to be higher at the end of the year than its current reading, but they do not credit Trump with the market's recent gains.

In the Bloomberg poll, 40 percent of respondents approve of Trump's handling of the White House, and 55 percent view him unfavorably.

Trump's unfavorability rating is 12 percentage points higher than in December, and 61 percent now say the country is heading down the wrong path, another 12 percentage point change in the last seven months.

The Bloomberg poll, of 1,001 adults, was conducted July 8-12, and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.1 percentage points.