WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden approaches the end of his term, a recent poll reveals that Americans hold a less favorable view of his presidency compared to their opinions of Donald Trump’s first term and Barack Obama’s second. Only about 25% of U.S. adults rated Biden as a “good” or “great” president, with less than 10% considering him “great,” based on findings from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
This data starkly highlights the declining perception of Biden’s legacy, particularly among members of his own Democratic Party, with many viewing his presidency as just mediocre. In contrast, around one-third of Americans rated Trump as “good” or “great” as he left office in 2021, despite his role in inciting the violent insurrection at the Capitol. Both Biden and Trump received similar criticism, with approximately half of Americans describing their presidencies as “poor” or “terrible.” Yet, 30% categorized Biden as “average,” while fewer than 20% applied this label to Trump.
Biden’s approval ratings are significantly lower than those of the last Democratic president, Obama, who left office with approximately half of Americans considering his presidency “good” or “great.” According to a Gallup report released earlier this week, Biden’s ratings are evocative of President Richard Nixon’s standing after his resignation during the Watergate scandal. Historically, former presidents like Trump, George W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter did see an improvement in public perception over time, but currently, many Americans, including a noteworthy number of Democrats, are unimpressed with Biden’s record.
Reflecting on Biden’s presidency, John Cressey, a 79-year-old Democrat from Los Angeles who works in the film industry, remarked, “He lost the pulse of the nation.” While only about 10% of Biden’s party supporters classify his presidency as “great,” around 40% see it as “good,” with a comparable number identifying it as “average.” Cressey expressed concerns about Biden’s physical decline, suggesting that the president is overly reliant on aides and that he has failed to address border issues effectively. Frustrated by rising food prices, he remarked, “Go buy a carton of eggs” to illustrate the economic turmoil that has afflicted many families.
At the outset of his presidency, Biden enjoyed approximately 60% approval, but this figure fell to around 40% by early 2022, where it has largely remained since. Notably, disappointment among Black and Hispanic Americans has surged. Traditionally Democratic-leaning groups are now drifting toward Trump in significant numbers as the 2024 election approaches. Among Black Americans, the contrast with Obama is particularly striking, with approximately 60% believing he fulfilled his promises, compared to just 30% who feel the same about Biden. Furthermore, around 70% of Black Americans reported being better off at the end of Obama’s presidency, while only a third expressed similar sentiments regarding Biden.
Evonte Terrell, a 30-year-old sales manager from Detroit who identifies as a “waning Democrat,” voiced his discontent with the economy, stating that progress has stalled since Biden took office. He criticized the administration for prioritizing climate change over pressing domestic issues and expressed disappointment in Biden’s pardoning of his son, Hunter. Terrell also voiced frustration over student debt payments and pointed out the president’s unsuccessful attempts to alleviate educational debt through legal challenges.
Younger voters, particularly those under 30, are doubly critical of Biden’s presidency, with only about 10% considering him a “good” or “great” leader, in contrast to around 40% of older voters aged 60 and above. A staggering 60% of young Americans labeled Biden’s presidency as “poor” or “terrible.” Terrell noted the impact of the Supreme Court decision against Biden’s student loan forgiveness efforts and termed his strategy as “just deferring” instead of making substantial progress.
Despite overseeing significant legislative achievements, including advancements in infrastructure and health care, only 20% of the public feels Biden has met his campaign promises. Approximately 40% believe he tried but fell short, while another 40% assert that he failed entirely to deliver.
Mark Jeanmougin, 47, a cybersecurity professional from Cincinnati, offered a more favorable view of Biden, praising his success in addressing climate change and infrastructure issues. He noted that some obstacles, such as “activist judges,” hindered the president’s initiatives. Jeanmougin acknowledged that while inflation was an expected result of the post-COVID-19 recovery, many citizens were unprepared for its consequences.
Overall, public sentiment about Biden’s presidency reflects a general lack of belief in progress during his tenure. While evaluations for job creation and prescription drug costs were mixed, a majority perceived negative outcomes in crucial areas like the cost of living, immigration, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Particularly noteworthy was that negative opinions about Biden’s handling of international relations were especially strong among younger voters, with fewer than 10% feeling positively about his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
Approximately 40% of Americans feel that their circumstances have worsened since Biden took office, while only a quarter believe they are better off. In contrast, only about 25% reported feeling worse off at the closure of either Trump’s or Obama’s presidencies.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted from December 5 to December 9, 2024, with a sample size of 1,251 adults and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
