WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, public opinion regarding his presidency has diminished compared to assessments of both Donald Trump’s and Barack Obama’s final days in office, according to a recent poll.
Approximately 25% of American adults characterized Biden as a “good” or “great” president, with less than 10% labeling him as “great,” based on findings from a survey by a research group.
This marks a significant decline in Biden’s perceived legacy, as even some of his fellow Democrats consider his time in office to be merely mediocre. In contrast, one-third of respondents described Trump as either “good” or “great” just before he exited the White House in 2021, and nearly 20% deemed him as “great,” despite the controversies surrounding his presidency and the violent Capitol insurrection that followed the 2020 election. The level of dissatisfaction is similar for both Biden and Trump, with about half of the respondents labeling each presidency as “poor” or “terrible.” However, around 30% deemed Biden’s term as “average,” while less than 20% felt the same way about Trump.
Biden’s approval ratings fall significantly short of Obama’s, who left office with roughly half of Americans describing his administration as “good” or “great.” Reports released this week by another research firm indicate that Biden’s ratings mirror those of Richard Nixon after his resignation amid the Watergate scandal. This analysis also notes that while perspectives on poorly rated presidents typically improve over time, Biden’s presidency currently lacks the same favorable tilt, even among many Democrats.
One voter, a 79-year-old Democrat from Los Angeles, suggested that Biden has lost touch with the nation, attributing his electoral loss to this disconnect. Among Biden’s supporters, only about 10% acknowledged his presidency as “great,” while about 40% viewed it as “good,” and a similar number rated it as “average.”
Criticism of Biden is particularly pronounced among Black and Hispanic communities, who traditionally support Democrats but have shown increasing support for Trump in the upcoming election. Notably, a stark contrast arises when comparing Biden to Obama regarding these voters’ perceptions. About 60% of Black Americans felt that Obama fulfilled his promises during his presidency, whereas only about 30% feel the same about Biden. Furthermore, around 70% of Black Americans reported being in a better place financially after Obama’s presidency compared to just one-third who feel that way about Biden.
A Detroit-based sales manager articulated his view that the economy has not improved during Biden’s tenure and criticized the Democratic Party for prioritizing issues like climate change over community and poverty relief. He also expressed resentment towards Biden’s decision to pardon his son, stating that not everyone has similar advantages.
Younger voters exhibit a notably negative perspective on Biden, with only about 10% under 30 viewing him as a “good” or “great” president, compared to nearly 40% of those 60 and older. Approximately 60% of young Americans rate him as a “poor” or “terrible” president. Issues such as student loan management have further affected perceptions, with some feeling as though Biden’s responses have resulted in delays rather than solutions.
Despite significant legislative achievements, including infrastructure investments and healthcare initiatives, many Americans feel Biden has not delivered on his campaign promises. About 20% believe he fulfilled his commitments, while 40% think he attempted but failed, and an equal percentage assert that he has not kept his promises at all.
Mixed reviews were noted concerning Biden’s impact on job creation and drug prices, where opinions were nearly split between those who viewed his influence as positive and those who regarded it as negative. However, many Americans reported discontent regarding his handling of living costs, immigration policies, and international conflicts, notably seeing him as detrimental to the situation in Ukraine. Among younger voters, the sentiment was particularly negative regarding Biden’s response to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Surveys indicate that about 40% of respondents felt worse off now compared to when Biden took office, with only a quarter stating they are better off, contrasting sharply with perceptions during the ends of Trump’s and Obama’s presidencies.
The recent survey, which involved 1,251 adults conducted from December 5 to 9, 2024, reflects a sampling method intended to accurately represent the U.S. population and bears a margin of error of ±3.7 percentage points overall.
