Trust in US institutions sees record drop

A new survey finds that the general population’s trust in U.S. institutions has fallen during President Trump’s first year in the White House.

According to the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, trust in institutions decreased in the U.S. more than any of the other 28 countries in the survey, Reuters reported.

The institutions measured in the survey include the government, media, business and nongovernment organizations.

{mosads}

Trust among the general population decreased by 9 points to 43 percent, according to the survey. Among the general population, it is the largest recorded drop in the survey’s history.

Among the informed public in the U.S., trust fell 23 points to 45 percent.

Faith in government fell to 33 percent among the general population, a 14-point drop.

Trust in business, media and nongovernmental organizations also fell between 10 and 20 points, according to the survey.

“The United States is enduring an unprecedented crisis of trust,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman.

“This is the first time that a massive drop in trust has not been linked to a pressing economic issue or catastrophe like the Fukushima nuclear disaster. In fact, it’s the ultimate irony that it’s happening at a time of prosperity, with the stock market and employment rates in the U.S. at record highs. The root cause of this fall is the lack of objective facts and rational discourse.”

The survey also finds that the media is not trusted in 22 of the 28 countries surveyed.

Trump has often railed on the media, accusing networks and reporters of publishing “fake news.”

China saw the largest gain in public trust, with an 8-point leap to 84 percent.