Over recent weeks, a national poll taken in 2024 vividly illustrates the calamitous dive that President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have taken, hitting an unequivocal nadir. Just before his unceremonious exit from office, his approval numbers have plummeted to a dire 34%, a far cry from the peak of 58% back in July 2021.
In stark contrast, the public sentiment for the President Elect Trump has been on an impressive upswing, reflected by a rejuvenated rating of 53%. This upturn sharply exposes the deficiency of favor for Biden, whose administration is limping to a lackluster close with a poor 34% approval, a dismal coda to his term in office.
Further compounding the collapse in Biden’s support is controversy rooted in the suspicious pardon he granted his son, Hunter Biden. This contentious event elicited a resounding backlash, registering disapproval rates of a weighty 70%. This acts as an undeniable indicator of the declining faith in Biden.
On the topic of Trump’s prospective team and the impending confrontations, there are marked disparities in approval figures. RFK, for instance, presents a polarizing figure with 44% approval and disapproval alike. This suggests a divided sentiment, resonating confused messages about the future landscape of Trump’s administration.
In this matrix of political figures, other prospective candidates seem to languish in relative obscurity, as is the case with Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi. A troublingly significant segment of voters confess to not being adequately acquainted with them. This lack of visibility in the public eye could potentially undermine their candidacy.
In a landscape cluttered with promising and less promising figures, Marco Rubio comes as a breath of fresh air with a recognizable face and a substantial net favorability. His rise to prominence showcases that likability, popularity, and a resonating political message are still rewarded despite the partisan divide.
On a slightly disheartening note, the public sentiment for Bondi as the potential Attorney General is disappointing, registering on the negative end of the scale. This is compounded by an even more penalizing disapproval for Hegseth’s potential Defense role, registering a net negative of ten.
In an eyebrow-raising move, President Trump brought attention to himself and his team once again last week, revealing a lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, the Des Moines Register, and parent company Gannett. The driving force behind this lawsuit is a poll that seemingly skewed favoritism towards Vice President Kamala Harris.
This legal action is making waves, as it marks an unusual instance of a politician suing media outlets or pollsters, hitherto a largely unfamiliar occurrence. One cannot help but question if this unanticipated maneuver could have a bearing on the execution and release of future polls, particularly those chosen as outliers.
This lawsuit opens a new chapter in the dynamic between politicians and the media. It alters the landscape drastically, and the effects remain to be seen. With the murmurs of uncertainty, the looming question remains how courts will respond to this new standard, given its significant potential to influence future polls and the complex relationship between media and politics.