Is The US On The Right Track? What Polls Show About America Amid George Floyd Protests, Coronavirus

As protests erupt across the United States after the killing of George Floyd, and the coronavirus continues to spread, the majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. A survey from Reuters/Ipsos reveals only 23% of citizens believe the U.S. is on the right direction, with 67% saying the country is on the wrong track.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey of 1,000 voters reveals 80% of Americans believe the current situation in the U.S. is “out of control.”

President Trump has threatened a military crackdown on looting and criminal activity amid the protests, emphasizing a “law and order” strategy. Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer kept his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. Trump has been criticized for not doing enough to unify the country, as Americans express indignation about racial injustice. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis condemned Trump's threats to deploy troops on U.S. streets.

“Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false conflict—between the military and civilian society,” Mattis said in a statement to The Atlantic. He also claimed that “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.”

The coronavirus outbreak could also be impacting how citizens view the direction of the country. As of Sunday, nearly 110,000 Americans have died from the virus.

At the same time, a possible economic recovery could influence how citizens view the direction of the U.S. On Friday, a report from the Bureau of the Labor Statistics revealed that 2.5 million jobs were added in May, surprising some economists who believed the economy would lose 7.5 million jobs during the month.

Trump will face former Vice President Joe Biden in the general election on Nov. 3. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows Biden with 49% support, compared to Trump’s 42%.