Texas Governor Greg Abbott met briefly with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office today to talk about COVID-19 in front of a sign titled “Provided to Texas.” While the White House seems to want to convey to Texans that Trump and the federal government have done things right by the state, Texans’ have already formed some attitudes on the matter. In the recently released April 2020 University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, Texas assessments of how the two chief executives and the different branches are performing during the intertwined public health and economic crises facing the state are consistently higher for Abbott, and Texas state and local governments compared to Trump and the federal government. (One exception is the ratings given the Centers for Disease Control.)

Whatever his position vis-a-vis Trump in the eyes of Texas, Abbott can be expected to express the same deference to the president that most other Republican elected officials show him in order to avoid his ire. The governor ponied up shortly after the two’s widely publicized meeting.  

“Texas has been phenomenal,” Trump said.

We appreciate the President and his team being available 24/7 to help Texas fight against #COVID19 and to put us in a position to open up business.

Texans will prevail.#txlegehttps://t.co/Ti4aqTPIjK

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2020

On Abbott and Trump handling of the coronavirus.

Overall, Gov. Abbott’s approval rating for his handling of the pandemic is 8 percentage points higher than President Trump's, and subject to much less disapproval. Abbott’s net approval ratings on the subject are +27, while Trump’s are +12.

Most of Abbott’s superior ratings are attributable to much higher ratings among Democrats and, to a lesser extent, independents.

Trust in Abbott and Trump as sources of information about the Coronavirus

On Abbott and Trump handling of the economy

Abbott and Trump overall job approval

Comparing approvals of federal, state, and local government responses