As President Biden's term comes to a close, new polls reveal a mixed bag of public opinion. His approval ratings remain significantly underwater, with a CNN poll showing only 36% of Americans approving of his performance. This matches his previous low point in the network's polling. Other recent surveys from USA Today/Suffolk University and Marist College, while slightly higher, still place his approval in negative territory.
A significant portion of the public views Biden's time in office as a failure, with 61% of respondents in the CNN poll sharing this sentiment. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll further illustrates this, with 44% of registered voters predicting history will judge Biden as a failed president. Only a small fraction anticipates he'll be remembered as a good (21%) or great (5%) president.
The Marist poll paints a similar picture, with over a third of respondents believing Biden will be remembered as one of the worst presidents. While some believe his legacy will be average (28%), a smaller percentage anticipate he'll be seen as above average or one of the best.
Despite these low approval ratings, Biden is expected to highlight his efforts to stabilize domestic politics, strengthen international relations, navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and invest in infrastructure and clean energy during his farewell address. He has also pointed to economic gains and decreasing inflation as achievements of his administration.
Several factors contributed to the decline in Biden's approval, including the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the resurgence of COVID-19, rising inflation, and the situation at the southern border. His approval dipped below 50% in the fall of 2021 and never recovered.
Interestingly, the USA Today/Suffolk University poll also suggests that a substantial portion of the public (44%) believes Trump, Biden's successor, will also be judged as a failed president. Opinions on Trump remain divided, with the Marist poll showing 44% favorable and 49% unfavorable views. However, perceptions of his first term appear to have improved since his recent election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic ticket after Biden withdrew.
The public has high expectations for Trump's handling of the economy, with increased optimism about personal finances. However, there's division regarding his immigration policies and proposed pardons for those involved in the January 6th Capitol riot.
The Marist poll, conducted January 7-9, surveyed 1,387 adults nationwide with a sampling error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The CNN poll, conducted January 9-12, surveyed 1,205 adults with a similar margin of error.
