Pew Research Center has conducted a new national survey showing that nearly one-in-five Americans, or 18 percent, think Obama is a Muslim, up from 11 percent in March 2009.
The findings show that only about 34 percent of American adults think Obama is a Christian. This is while in 2009, 48 percent of Americans believed he was a Christian.
Pew further mentioned that 43 percent of Americans say they do not know what their president's religion is.
White House has expressed dismay over the poll results, blaming "misinformation campaigns" by the president's opponents.
"While the president has been diligent and personally committed to his own Christian faith, there are certainly folks who are intent on spreading falsehoods about the president and his values and beliefs," the Washington Post quoted Joshua DuBois, a faith adviser, as saying.
The survey was completed before Obama's recent comments on supporting the proposed construction of the Ground Zero mosque.
"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," said Obama at a White House Iftar meal for Muslims on Friday.
"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said.
"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."
Although his comments drew heavy criticism, Obama said on NBC television that he does not "regret" supporting the construction of the mosque.
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