A recent Gallup survey has unveiled that former US President Donald Trump possesses one of the lowest approval ratings among his predecessors. The survey, which actively asked Americans to rate certain former presidents, has revealed that Donald Trump’s approval rating stands at a modest 46 percent. This marks the first time Donald Trump has been included in Gallup’s survey concerning former presidents, with the last such survey being conducted in 2018.
The 2023 Gallup poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,013 adults, encompassing residents from all 50 US states. While Donald Trump’s retrospective approval rating is indeed higher than the average approval rating he held while in office, it remains considerably lower compared to the ratings of several other former presidents. It is particularly noteworthy that Richard Nixon’s rating appears to be the sole exception, as it falls even below his average during his term, standing at a mere 34 percent in Gallup’s recent survey.
John F. Kennedy, a former president, garnered the highest approval rating among the listed presidents, earning an impressive 90 percent approval. It is worth mentioning that Gallup made a significant observation regarding retrospective approval ratings – they have a tendency to improve over time and often surpass the presidents’ average job approval ratings during their terms.
As Donald Trump actively campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, this survey findings shed light on the public’s perspective of his presidency and current standing compared to his predecessors. While the survey results indicate room for improvement in his approval rating, the dynamics of public perception continue to be complex and subject to various factors.
The survey outcomes provide valuable insights into the way Americans perceive past presidential administrations and how these perceptions can evolve over time. For Donald Trump, this inclusion in Gallup’s retrospective survey opens up new avenues for gauging his historical standing and offers a unique vantage point to understand the impact of his presidency from a different lens.
As with all surveys, the context and timing play a pivotal role in shaping public sentiment, and the survey results must be taken in stride with other forms of political analysis. Nonetheless, the data provides an important glimpse into the public’s retrospective views, adding to the mosaic of public opinion that shapes the legacy of past presidents.