GALLUP

PRINCETON, NJ — Americans’ trust in the federal government to handle international problems has fallen to a record-low 43% as President Barack Obama prepares to address the nation on Wednesday to outline his plan to deal with ISIS. Separately, 40% of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in the federal government to handle domestic problems, also the lowest Gallup has measured to date.

Trust in Federal Gov’t to Handle International, Domestic Problems

The results are based on Gallup’s annual Governance poll, conducted Sept. 4-7. This year’s poll was conducted at a time when the government is faced with instability in many parts of the world, including Iraq and Syria, the Middle East, and Ukraine. President Obama, who recently said he had “no strategy” for dealing with ISIS — the Islamic extremists who have taken control of parts of Iraq and Syria and recently captured and beheaded two American journalists — is set to present his plan for dealing with the group Wednesday.

Americans’ confidence in the government to handle international problems slid […]