Trump raid sinks FBI's image

A Rasmussen poll noted the deep divide among voters over the raid on the Mar-a-Lago residence.

The FBI raid on Donald Trump's residence has caused a major breach in Americans' confidence in the federal agency. Sentiment is especially high among Republican and independent voters who believe the FBI have become, "Biden's Gestapo (Former Nazi Germany's secret police)."

A new Rasmussen Reports poll asked 1,000 likely voters whether they agreed with former Trump adviser Roger Stone, who said a year ago that the FBI had become the president's "personal Gestapo." At the time, 46% of voters agreed with that assessment. Now that figure has increased to 53% of voters who agree. Thirty-four percent said they "strongly agree."

The gap in sentiment with the FBI is widest among Republican voters. Seventy-six percent of Republicans agree with Stone, while 57% of Democrats disagree.

Assessment of Christopher Wray and confidence in the FBI

50% of Democrats say the recent FBI raid on Trump's home made them trust the FBI more, however, 70% of Republicans say the Mar-a-Lago raid made them trust the institution less.

Fifteen percent of voters surveyed by Rasmussen said FBI Director Christopher Wray is better than most of directors who held the job before him, while twice as many (30%) believe that Wray is worse than most of his predecessors.

Only 30% of Republicans now view the FBI favorably, down from 38% in December. Forty-nine percent of GOP voters now have a very unfavorable impression of the FBI. In contrast, approval of the FBI is higher among Democratic voters. 75% of Democrats now have a favorable opinion of the FBI, up from 63% in December.

Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 45% had a favorable impression of the FBI while 50% viewed it unfavorably.