Highlights for United States

Across the United States, the Democratic Party is perceived as more ethically credible than the Republican Party or Donald Trump. The Democratic Party receives the highest overall POLIS score at 2.92, followed by the Republican Party at 2.45, and Trump at 2.37. These results suggest that Americans, on average, view the Democrats as more closely aligned with the values expected of political institutions in a democratic society.

The Democratic Party performs strongest on benevolence (3.19), legitimacy (3.15), and procedural fairness (3.04). These ratings reflect the party’s perceived alignment with empathy, institutional responsibility, and just treatment. It also scores relatively well on competence (2.79), integrity (2.77), and accountability (2.75), indicating a broad-based ethical trust among voters across multiple value dimensions.

The Republican Party scores lower across the board, with its highest ratings in competence (2.77) and legitimacy (2.68). These evaluations suggest some public confidence in the party’s capability and institutional role, but much weaker trust in other areas. Scores for benevolence (2.49), accountability (2.24), and procedural fairness (2.24) reveal public skepticism regarding the party’s ethical responsiveness and fairness.

Donald Trump receives the lowest ratings overall, with a POLIS score of 2.37—lower than both major political parties. His strongest area is competence (2.67), indicating some belief in his effectiveness or decision-making. However, his scores in accountability (2.09), procedural fairness (2.13), and legitimacy (2.52) point to serious concerns about how he enacts leadership and whether he upholds democratic principles.

Overall, the POLIS Index highlights a clear ethical perception gap in American politics. The Democratic Party is seen as the most ethically trustworthy, while the Republican Party and Trump lag behind—particularly on fairness, accountability, and transparency. These results suggest that ethical leadership remains a central dividing line in how Americans evaluate political actors today.