Politics

After Abruptly Firing James Comey, Trump’s Approval Rating Goes Unchanged

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Kaitlan Collins Contributor
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Firing James Comey has barely affected Donald Trump’s approval rating.

According to the results of the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 39 percent of voters approve of the president’s performance in office so far. That is only one percent lower than what his approval rating was in the same poll that was conducted in mid-April.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during an Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on January 22, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

(Photo: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

Though Trump’s approval rating barely changed, that same poll found that few voters approve of his decision to abruptly fire the FBI director, which he did last Tuesday because he decided Comey could not “effectively lead the bureau.” Only 29 percent of those surveyed approve of the firing, while 38 percent disapprove and 32 percent didn’t know enough about what happened to weigh in. (RELATED: Trump Has Fired FBI Director James Comey)

Additionally, 30 percent of those surveyed said they had a less favorable view of Trump because he fired Comey. Six percent said they had a more favorable opinion of him.

Though the White House said Trump fired Comey after he received two letters of recommendation from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, he told Lester Holt “it was set up a while ago.”

“Frankly, I could have waited, but what difference does it make?” Trump said. “Regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey, knowing there was no good time to do it.”