{"id":14563,"date":"2025-10-17T15:21:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/americans-spread-shutdown-blame-across-parties-ap-norc-poll-shows\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T15:21:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:21:26","slug":"americans-spread-shutdown-blame-across-parties-ap-norc-poll-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/americans-spread-shutdown-blame-across-parties-ap-norc-poll-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans spread shutdown blame across parties, AP-NORC poll shows"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the government shutdown<\/a><\/span> drags on with no end in sight, a new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans see it as a significant problem — and all of the major players are being blamed. <\/p>\n

Roughly 6 in 10 Americans say President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility for the shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research<\/a><\/span>. At least three-quarters of Americans believe each deserves at least a “moderate” share of blame, underscoring that no one is successfully evading responsibility. <\/p>\n

The survey, conducted as the shutdown<\/a><\/span> stretched into its third week, comes as leaders warn<\/a><\/span> it could soon become the longest in history. Democrats are demanding an extension<\/a><\/span> of tax credits that have helped millions of people afford health insurance since the coronavirus pandemic, while Republicans have refused to negotiate until Congress passes a funding bill to reopen the government.<\/p>\n

The standoff has become a messaging battle, with each party betting the public will blame the other. The stakes are especially high for Democrats, now out of power and searching for a unifying fight to rally around ahead of pivotal 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n

Slightly more of the public’s frustration appears to be aimed at the party in power<\/a><\/span>. The poll finds that about half of Americans say Trump has “a great deal” of responsibility for the shutdown, the very highest amount of responsibility offered in the poll. That’s roughly the same share who fault Republicans in Congress, but higher than the 40% who say the same of Democrats.<\/p>\n

Sophia Cole, a 38-year-old Republican mother from St. Louis, placed equal blame for the shutdown on Trump and Congress. Cole, who described herself as a Trump supporter, said both sides “should be able to come together” on a compromise but believes it is ultimately the Republican president’s responsibility to broker a deal.<\/p>\n

“We’re dependent on him to get the House and everyone to vote the way that he needs them to vote,” Cole said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
<\/a> \"With<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n
\n

With the government shutdown now in its third week, a sign turns away tourists at the entrance to the Capitol Visitor Center, in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n