Americans who perceive government corruption in the U.S. as widespread hit record high in 2026: poll

Americans' perceptions of government corruption hit a 20-year-high according to a new Gallup poll, which found that 89% of U.S. adults this year saying it's widespread. 

The figure is a jump of 10 percentage points from last year, and well above the 72% to 79% range found in Gallup polls conducted between 2010 and 2025. 

Much of the increase can be attributed to a sharp rise in Democrats' perception of government corruption. In former President Joe Biden's final year in office, 57% of Democrats said corruption was widespread in government. That increased to 76% in the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, and hit 91% this year, according to the poll. 

Republicans' views of corruption didn't see the same level of change during that period, but Gallup's polling on the topic showed Republicans generally perceived more corruption in government than Democrats. For the past two years, about 80% of Republicans have said corruption is widespread, which is down slightly from 2024, when 87% said the same.