Washington: Donald Trump may not be in nearly as much strife as Sussan Ley, but he is facing a pivotal week in his presidency and, as winter approaches, skating on thin ice with many Americans.

With a Republican president in the White House and a Republican majority in both congressional chambers, voters are largely blaming Trump and his allies for a federal government shutdown that is about to become the longest in history.

His approval rating is falling further into negative territory, according to the largest and most respected polls. Four surveys taken in the last week of October for major news companies – ABC, NBC, CNN and Reuters – gave the president a net negative between 12 and 26 points.

Trump is following a similar decline in popularity as most presidents in their first year.

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