Polling Results Reveal Public Perception

According to a recent USA Today/Suffolk University survey released on January 14, 2025, the majority of American voters do not view Biden favorably. A notable 44% of those surveyed believe that history will label Biden as a failed president. Furthermore, 27% categorize him as a fair president, while only 21% see him as a good president. Merely 5% of respondents expect him to be judged as a great president.

The End of Biden’s Term

Biden’s tenure will officially conclude on January 20, 2025, coinciding with the inauguration of Donald Trump as his successor. This transition reignites a persistent debate over diverging views on the legacies of the two leaders. Interestingly, the same poll indicates that 44% of respondents believe Trump will also be seen by history as a failed president.

However, perceptions of Trump have notably changed since he lost the presidency four years prior. Currently, 20% of those surveyed consider him a great president, with 19% rating him as good, and 27% as fair.

Trump’s Approval Rating: A Shift in Sentiment

Trump’s first term ended with dismal approval ratings; for instance, a Fox News poll from four years ago recorded a 47% approval rate. Yet, polling conducted after Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris reflects a significant uptick in public opinion. Notably, 52% of respondents currently approve of Trump’s performance during his first term, while 45% disapprove.

According to David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, independent voters show a particularly significant shift in sentiment. “Donald Trump essentially wiped out his overwhelming negative personal popularity between December 2020 and today among independents,” Paleologos said. His approval among this crucial demographic went from a notable negative 22% to a much improved negative 5%.

Public Reaction to Trump’s Return

Looking to the future, reactions to Trump’s imminent return to the White House are mixed. About 31% of Americans express excitement about Trump’s new term, while 18% feel satisfied. In contrast, 12% report feeling depressed, and an equal 31% express fear regarding a second Trump presidency.

As for Biden’s approval rating as he exits office, the survey reflects that 43% of Americans approve of his leadership, while a majority, 54%, disapprove. Biden’s approval ratings were relatively stable during the early part of his presidency, hovering in the low to mid-50s. However, these numbers began to decline following a series of crises, including the controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan and a subsequent surge in COVID-19 cases exacerbated by a low vaccination rate among Americans.

The Impact of Inflation and Immigration

Biden’s approval ratings further plummeted due to concerns over rising inflation, which began spiking in the summer of 2021 and has continued to significantly impact household budgets. Alongside these economic factors, the Biden administration faced challenges with immigration as increasing numbers of migrants attempted to cross the southern border with Mexico.

By autumn 2021, Biden’s approval ratings sank below the positive threshold and have yet to recover. In terms of Biden’s achievements, the poll revealed that nearly a quarter of respondents remained undecided on his most significant victories in office, while 19% cited infrastructure investments as his major accomplishment. Only 10% recognized his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was once the foremost concern for Americans when he took office four years ago.

Perceptions of Biden’s Failures

When asked about Biden’s failures, more than 30% of respondents pointed to his handling of immigration as problematic, while 20% highlighted the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 as a significant misstep.

The USA Today/Suffolk University poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters across the nation via phone from January 7-11, 2025, carrying a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. This data captures the ongoing divided sentiment among Americans as Biden prepares to leave office.