Trump was a historically
unpopular president the first time around, and so far it looks as though he’ll face the same widespread public opposition in his second term.
As much as Republicans want to throw around words such as “landslide” and “mandate,” 2024 was one of the closest elections in American history.
Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the popular vote by less than 1.5%; only
one election in the last half-century (in 2000) was closer.
Joe Biden, for instance, had 57% approval in the first
Gallup poll of his presidency; Barack Obama came in at 67% approval. Even Bush, who like Trump lost the popular vote in his first victory, started at 57%. In fact, Trump was the only president in the Gallup poll’s history — going all the way back to Harry Truman — who entered office with an approval rating under 50%. He was also the only one to never crack 50% approval for a single day of an entire term.
On the verge of his second term, even after his first popular vote victory in three tries, Trump’s approval is weak.
A new Marist/NPR poll puts it at just 44%; 49% say they disapprove of him.
The Economist/YouGov poll gives him a similar 45/51 split, while a
USA Today/Suffolk University survey has his favorability/unfavorability at 47% each.
The <1.5% convicted felon. Your popularly elected President everybody.
