President-elect Donald Trump’s approval rating has surged to one of the highest of his political career following his Nov. 5 election victory, while Joe Biden’s approval has hit a four-year low, according to a new poll by Emerson College.
The poll shows Trump with a 54% approval rating, a six-point jump from earlier figures, with 46% disapproving. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted, “Trump’s favorability varies significantly by gender, race, and age.” Among voters aged 40 to 59, 60% view Trump positively, his strongest age group. Even younger voters under 30 show increased support, with 55% expressing a favorable opinion.
Biden, on the other hand, scored a 36% approval rating, with 52% disapproving—the lowest Emerson has recorded in four years. His favorability has steadily declined, reflecting voter dissatisfaction during the latter half of his term.
Trump’s favorability marks a stark reversal from his historically low ratings after the 2020 election. For comparison, Trump never broke 50% approval during his first term, according to Gallup. Now, as he prepares for a second term, his post-election approval has surpassed previous highs, including his earlier pre-election numbers. This trend has been echoed in other recent polls, with a CBS News/YouGov survey reporting 59% of voters approving of his handling of the transition process.
The Emerson poll also highlighted demographic differences in Trump’s favorability. He is viewed favorably by 59% of white voters and 53% of Hispanic voters but only 28% of Black voters. His favorability among men is stronger (61%) than among women (48%).
The poll also gauged reactions to the 2024 election results. While 54% of voters were unsurprised by Trump’s victory, 67% of Harris supporters reported being surprised. This polarization underscores the sharp divides in voter sentiment.
Despite his victory, Trump’s favorability across broader polls remains mixed. The RealClearPolitics average places his favorability at 45.5% with 51.4% unfavorable—a split reflective of the ongoing partisan divide.
Looking ahead to 2028, the poll explored hypothetical candidates. Vice President-elect JD Vance led Republican preferences with 30%, while Kamala Harris topped the Democratic field with 37%. However, some respondents expressed interest in Trump running again, a constitutional impossibility for a third term.
The Emerson College poll, conducted from Nov. 20 to 22 with 1,000 respondents, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.