The Pew Research Center survey also shows fewer than two-in-10 Americans, 19 percent, have a favorable opinion of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, while 69 percent view Putin unfavorably. | AP Photo Majority of Americans believe Russia was behind DNC hack

A majority of Americans believe Russia was behind election-year hacks of the Democratic National Committee and officials in Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

The Pew Research Center survey shows 72 percent of Americans who have heard or read about the allegations of hacking the DNC and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s personal email account believe Russia was “definitely” or “probably” responsible. Only 17 percent think Russia was “probably not behind” the hacks, and 7 percent say Russia was “definitely not” culpable.


Nearly nine-in-10 Americans, 88 percent, say they have heard either “a lot” or “a little” about the hacking allegations.

The Pew survey also shows fewer than two-in-10 Americans, 19 percent, have a favorable opinion of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, while 69 percent view Putin unfavorably. Still, Putin’s favorable rating is up 7 points from two years ago, when a Pew survey showed only 12 percent viewed him favorably.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that actors affiliated with the Russian government were responsible for hacking the DNC and Podesta’s Google account. But President-elect Donald Trump’s reaction to those findings has been ambiguous.

In a statement after he was briefed by intelligence officials last week, Trump conceded that “Russia, China, other countries, outside groups and people are consistently trying to break through the cyber infrastructure of our governmental institutions, businesses and organizations including the Democrat [sic] National Committee.” But he also asserted that “there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election.”

The Pew Research Center survey was conducted January 4-9 — in part before the U.S. intelligence estimate was released to the public.

Overall, Trump’s presidential transition is viewed negatively by most Americans — an enormous departure from other modern presidents-elect. Only 39 percent of poll respondents approve of the job Trump “has done so far in explaining his policies and plans for the future to the American people,” while a 55-percent majority disapproves.

That’s far worse than his recent predecessors. At this point eight years ago, 70 percent of Americans approved of the job Barack Obama had done in explaining his plans before becoming president. In January 2001, a smaller 50-percent share approved of the job George W. Bush had done, but just 36 percent disapproved. And 62 percent approved of Bill Clinton at this point in 1993.

Trump is also earning low marks for his “Cabinet choices and other high-level appointments.” Only 41 percent approve of Trump’s picks, while 49 percent disapprove. Roughly two-thirds of Americans, 66 percent, approved of Obama’s Cabinet picks in 2009, and 58 percent approved of Bush’s picks in 2001.

Americans also view Trump’s decision-making process with unease. A 58-percent majority thinks Trump will be “too impulsive” in “making important decisions,” the poll shows, while just 4 percent think Trump will be “too cautious.” Only 34 percent said Trump’s decision-making will be “about right,” though 65 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of conservatives say Trump will be “about right” in making important decisions.

Ahead of Wednesday’s long-awaited press conference in New York, the poll shows Trump has eased some concerns about his business conflicts, though a majority remains circumspect.

A third of respondents, 33 percent, say they are “very concerned” that Trump’s “relationships with organizations, businesses or foreign governments” will “conflict with his ability to serve the country’s best interests” – and another 24 percent say they are “somewhat concerned.”

Still, that’s down from a month prior, when 45 percent were “very concerned,” and 20 percent were “somewhat concerned.”

But Americans still want Trump to release his tax returns, despite the president-elect’s longstanding refusal to do so. Six-in-10 Americans say Trump has a responsibility to release his tax returns publicly, while 33 percent say he doesn’t.

A 53-percent majority of Republicans say Trump doesn’t have a responsibility to release his tax returns, while 79 percent of Democrats say he does.

The poll surveyed 1,502 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.