Trump Hits Historical Approval Rating After Election: Survey

A strong majority of registered voters express approval of President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to assume his second term, according to a recent survey.

The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll reports that 54% of respondents approve of Trump’s leadership, compared to 40% who disapprove. This notable approval rating is fueled by overwhelming support from 91% of Republicans, 49% of independents, and even 22% of Democrats, as cited by The Hill.

This poll emerges as Trump transitions to the presidency, with his inauguration set for January 20. His administration's buildout includes several prominent Cabinet picks, such as Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for Secretary of State and Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as United Nations Ambassador. However, some selections have stirred controversy, including former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for Attorney General and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.

The survey highlights significant approval across age groups, with majorities seen among voters aged 18 to 54. For those aged 55 to 64, approval narrowly outweighs disapproval. However, a slight majority of voters 65 and older expressed disapproval, The Hill noted.

Trump’s 54% approval rating surpasses President Biden’s 42%, based on the same survey. While Biden's numbers have stayed relatively steady in recent months, his approval occasionally dropped into the upper 30s before his decision not to seek reelection in July. Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently polled lower than Biden during this period.

Historically, Trump’s approval ratings during his presidency never reached 50% in Gallup polling, with a peak of 49% on several occasions. Pollster Mark Penn highlighted the significance of Trump’s current rating for effective governance.

“It’s a good start. He is above 50 in job approval so far — it will be important for him to stay above that level to govern effectively,” Penn told The Hill.

Approval for the Republican Party also rose modestly, moving from 46% to 49%, while the Democratic Party’s approval fell from 47% to 44%. At the same time, only 26% of voters feel the country is on the right track, a 4-point drop from October.

As President Biden nears the end of his term with 62 days remaining, his presence on the global stage has drawn scrutiny.

At the final Group of 20 (G20) summit of his presidency, Biden was conspicuously absent from the traditional group photo. Officials cited scheduling issues, though the absence at the Brazil event raised eyebrows.

The 81-year-old president, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrived after the photo had been taken. According to the Associated Press, world leaders mingled after posing, leaving Chinese President Xi Jinping front and center in the image against Rio de Janeiro’s scenic backdrop. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stood less visibly in the back row.

“A senior Biden administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said Biden and other leaders missed the photo because of ‘logistical issues,’” the AP reported. It added, “Biden had intended to be part of the photo, but it occurred earlier than scheduled.”

Just days earlier, Biden made headlines after appearing to wander alone into the Amazon rainforest following a speech on climate change at the COP29 summit in Brazil, as reported by Breitbart News.

A viral video captured the moment, drawing widespread attention on social media. Hollywood celebrities, once ardent supporters of Biden, joined the growing chorus of ridicule over the 81-year-old leader’s seemingly aimless behavior.