Rising concerns over President Joe Biden's leadership effectiveness have culminated in a new poll indicating a decidedly negative public opinion as his term concludes.
Fox News reported that a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll displays significant disapproval of President Biden, with 44% of voters viewing him as a failed leader as his tenure overlaps with Donald Trump’s upcoming second term.
The poll, conducted by phone from January 7-11, 2025, surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide, revealing layered opinions about the current and future states of U.S. presidential leadership. This data arrives just days before Biden is set to leave office on January 20, 2025.
While 44% of those surveyed deem Biden's presidency a failure, opinion remains divided with 27% considering him a fair president and a minority of 26% viewing his presidency more favorably. The responses underscore a challenging context for Biden, whose single term has been marred by significant national and international issues.
Concurrently, perceptions of former President Donald Trump, who is preparing to assume the presidency once again, show signs of recovery.
Despite a similarly high 44% of respondents foreseeing his presidency as a failure, Trump’s overall approval rating stands at 52%, reflecting a notable improvement since his first term.
Results indicate that a shift has occurred in Trump's favor, particularly among independent voters. His popularity metrics have significantly recovered, moving from a negative rating of -22 in December 2020 to just -5 recently.
“Donald Trump essentially wiped out his overwhelming negative personal popularity between December 2020 and today among independents,” remarked David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. This swing support is potentially critical for his second administration.
Moreover, the public reaction to Trump’s return is mixed, with 31% expressing excitement, another 31% feeling fear, 18% satisfaction, and a smaller 12% experiencing depression. These varied emotions depict a fragmented response to Trump’s upcoming leadership.
Trump's growing endorsement appears in stark contrast to Biden, whose approval rating is substantially lower. Only 43% of voters approve of Biden’s job performance, with a majority of 54% disapproving.
Biden’s presidency faced declining support following key events, particularly after August 2021.
His management during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and an uptick in COVID-19 cases drastically impacted public perception.
Inflation, rising since the summer of 2021, alongside ongoing difficulties with immigration at the southern U.S. border, exacerbated dissatisfaction among the electorate. These issues contributed heavily to the negative outlook towards his administration.
Survey participants also reflected on Biden’s tenure achievements and failures. A remarkable 24% remained undecided on his greatest achievements.
Nevertheless, 19% acknowledged his infrastructure investments and 10% praised his management of the pandemic. In contrast, 30% criticized his immigration policies as his most significant failure, with 20% sharply criticizing the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan.