As the exit of President Joe Biden from the Oval Office looms, Americans seem to exhibit a growing distaste, in stark contrast to the enthusiasm once shown to President-elect Donald Trump. The sentiments of Americans towards Biden’s presidency reveal a picture of disappointment and doubts. A noticeable decline in approval ratings, as displayed by a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, speaks volumes about his waning popularity.
The findings of the research, which was released to the public on Friday, provide an unsettling snapshot of public sentiment. Biden’s approval rating languishes at a mere 25 percent as his term concludes. This figure stands as a stark criticism of Biden’s time in office, with less than a quarter of Americans considering him a good or great president.
Additionally, the poll unveils the extent of the dissatisfaction of the American public with Biden’s performance. Forty-seven percent of the respondents dubbed Biden as a subpar or just terrible president, denoting a severe disenchantment among the masses. This reaction seems to be an indictment on his ability to lead the nation effectively.
However, it’s worth noting that evaluations of his performance are strikingly partisan. While half of the Democrats insist on viewing him as a good or great president, a massive 82% of Republicans express their fervent disapproval, categorizing his presidency as downright poor or terrible. This differentiation along party lines further emphasizes the level of disillusionment.
The comparative scenario between Biden and his predecessor Trump spells an embarrassing outcome for Biden. In 2021, Trump enjoyed the endorsement of 36 percent of the Americans as being a good or great president, a figure evidently superior to Biden’s. Only a mere 15 percent branded him as being average, with 50 percent disapproving of him.
Just like Biden, the perception of Trump was majorly divided among party lines, but even in this division, the incumbent President seems to lag. Trump enjoyed much more approval within his party, further highlighting Biden’s failure to inspire the same level of confidence among the Democrats.
Even when compared to former President Barack Obama, Joe Biden’s disappointment stands out. Obama had a more positive rapport with Americans when he was stepping down in 2017. A significant majority, over half of the respondents, viewed Obama as a great or good president, far more than Biden’s ratings ever reached. This only accentuates Biden’s unimpressive spell in the White House.
Comparatively, only 28 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with Obama’s leadership, painting him as a bad or terrible president. This figure is strikingly low when one contrasts it to the much higher disapproval Biden has faced during his tenure, emphasizing the shortcomings of his administration.
This public sentiment poll was precisely conducted among 1,251 adults over five days from Dec. 5-9, 2024. The margin of error of 3.7 percentage points also ensures that the results are representative of the broader American public.
The timing of these damning results couldn’t be more auspicious as they arrive ten days prior to the inauguration of Trump. This reflects a clear shift toward a more promising leader in Donald Trump, highlighting the public’s anticipation for a change in leadership.
The November’s election saw Trump emerge victorious, further cementing the lack of confidence in the Democratic Party’s leadership. Especially when their candidate was Vice President Kamala Harris, who stepped up to represent the party after Biden’s withdrawal.
Indeed, Kamala Harris represented another disappointment for the Democratic Party, which hoped she could bring victory where Biden had clearly failed. However, the voters’ decision to trust Trump over her indicated a general preference for Republican leadership rather than the Democrats under the current circumstances.
Harris’ nomination after Biden’s abrupt withdrawal in July 2024, only amplified the uncertainty around the Democratic party’s robust leadership. Biden’s sudden departure and Harris’ subsequent failure attest to the lack of faith the public has in their capabilities.
Conclusively, Biden’s departure depicted a dismal political landscape for the Democrats, one characterized by dwindling public faith. His significantly lower ratings compared to previous presidents underscore his underwhelming performance and reflect on the collective disapproval of his presidential term.
The evident voting disparity based on party lines not only exemplifies the inherent political divisions but also the apparent disenchantment with Biden and Harris within their own party lines. It leads to the question of whether the Democratic Party can, in the future, bring forth a leader who will confidently meet public expectations.
As the inauguration of Trump nears, it is clear that dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris leadership has created a strong yearning for change, even if this means welcoming a familiar face back into the Oval Office. The statistics tell a tale of disappointment for the present and hope for future leadership, a tale that Biden will undoubtedly want to forget.