Final answer:
The trust percentage of Americans in the government has fluctuated greatly over time, with historic lows in recent decades and spikes in specific instances such as after 9/11, reflecting a trend of sharp rises and falls.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage of Americans who indicate they trust the government "just about always or most of the time" has not remained steady or seen a consistent increase or decrease since World War II. According to the provided data, public trust in the federal government is near historic lows for more than a decade, which suggests that trust has risen and fallen sharply many times over the years. For example, trust levels spiked after events like September 11, 2001, but have generally trended downward. Distrust or varying levels of trust in government are also evident in the increasing polarization between political parties, showing that opinions on government control and trust can vary widely depending on the political affiliation.