As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, Americans hold a dimmer view of his presidency compared to his predecessors, Donald Trump and Barack Obama, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The findings reflect widespread disappointment among Democrats and a sense of unfulfilled promises, especially among younger and minority voters.
Why It Matters
Biden's approval ratings have steadily declined since the early days of his presidency, reflecting a growing perception of unmet expectations and political stagnation.
Compared to Obama, who ended his term with substantial support, Biden's ratings are closer to those of President Richard Nixon post-Watergate, raising questions about his political legacy and its impact on the Democratic Party's future.
What to Know
Only about one-quarter of Americans rated Biden as a "good" or "great" president, with less than 10 percent describing him as "great." Comparatively, about one-third of Americans rated Trump as "good" or "great" at the end of his term, despite the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Obama, by contrast, left office with half the population rating his presidency positively.
Discontent Among Democrats
Even among Democrats, Biden's performance was seen as lackluster. Only 10 percent called his presidency "great," and a sizable portion described it as "average." Black and Hispanic voters, who have historically leaned Democratic, expressed significant dissatisfaction, contrasting sharply with their views of Obama. Among Black Americans, only about 3 in 10 believed Biden kept his promises, compared to 6 in 10 who said the same of Obama.
Economic Concerns
Economic dissatisfaction is a dominant theme, with many citing rising costs and stalled progress on key issues. Biden's failure to achieve student loan forgiveness and perceptions of his handling of inflation have deepened frustrations. Around 4 in 10 Americans said they were worse off financially under Biden, a sentiment more pronounced than at the end of Trump's or Obama's presidencies.
What People Are Saying
John Cressey, 79, Democrat: "I think he just lost the pulse of the nation and that's why Trump won."
Mark Jeanmougin, 47, former Trump voter: "Biden set the U.S. up for success on issues like climate change and infrastructure funding but ran into activist judges."
Evonte Terrell, 30, Democrat: "The economy hasn't progressed in a positive way since he's been in office."
What Happens Next
Biden's term concludes with uncertainty about his lasting impact. The AP-NORC poll shows widespread disappointment, signaling challenges ahead for the Democratic Party in rebuilding trust and addressing voter dissatisfaction heading into the 2028 elections.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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