Americans name 'government/poor leadership' as nation's biggest problem: poll

President Joe Biden is slated to give his State of the Union address on Feb. 7 and will likely face a critical audience as Americans sour on the government as a whole.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House August 5, 2021 in Washington, DC.

President Biden at White House

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By Ben Whedon

A plurality of Americans say the government itself is the biggest problem facing Americans, according to a recent survey.

Nearly a quarter, 21%, of respondents in the latest Gallup poll indicated that the "government/poor leadership" is the "most important problem facing this country today."

Inflation came in second with 15%, followed by immigration with 11% and "economy in general" with 10%. Approval of Congress came in at an abysmal 21%, while President Joe Biden earned a score of 41% .

Government ranked first among the nation's problems for both Republicans (24%) and Democrats (18%). Overall, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents pointed to government, inflation, immigration, and the economy in general as ranking among their top concerns.

A plurality of Democrats also identified government as the leading problem, but other respondents split more evenly between a range of social and economic issues.

President Joe Biden is slated to give his State of the Union address on Feb. 7 and will likely face a critical audience as Americans sour on the government as a whole.