A new national poll suggests that Americans hold relatively negative views of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden when compared with other U.S. presidents, placing the two recent leaders near the bottom of modern historical rankings.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, asked respondents to evaluate 20 American presidents across categories ranging from “outstanding” to “poor.” The results indicate that both Trump and Biden carry net negative ratings, with Trump receiving the single highest share of “poor” ratings among all presidents included in the poll.
Trump receives the most “poor” ratings
According to the poll, 48 percent of respondents rated Trump as “poor,” while an additional 6 percent classified him as “below average.” That combined 54 percent represents the highest share of negative sentiment recorded among the 20 presidents evaluated.
No other president in the survey received as many “poor” ratings as Trump alone, underscoring the deep polarization that continues to shape public opinion around his leadership. Trump’s overall net rating in the poll stands at –20, placing him firmly in the lower tier of modern presidential reputations.
Biden’s ratings also negative
Biden’s standing in the poll is only slightly better. Half of respondents gave him negative marks, with 38 percent rating him as “poor” and 12 percent as “below average.” His net rating sits at –27, the lowest among presidents included in the survey.
While Biden does not surpass Trump in the share of “poor” ratings alone, his overall balance of positive versus negative responses places him at the bottom of the group in net terms. The results suggest that Americans remain broadly dissatisfied with the recent era of presidential leadership, regardless of party affiliation.
Historical comparison: Nixon also among the lowest
Among earlier presidents, Richard Nixon ranked third-worst in terms of combined “poor” and “below average” ratings, with 48 percent of respondents assigning him to one of those two categories. Nixon’s legacy remains heavily influenced by the Watergate scandal, which continues to shape his standing in retrospective public opinion surveys.
Despite Nixon’s historically low reputation, both Trump and Biden now compare unfavorably to him in key measures, highlighting how sharply divided current views of recent presidents have become.
Top-rated presidents: Lincoln, Kennedy, Washington
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the poll found that Americans continue to view several foundational and mid-20th-century presidents in a far more positive light. The three highest-rated leaders were:
-
Abraham Lincoln — 74 percent rated “outstanding” or “above average”
-
John F. Kennedy — 66 percent
-
George Washington — 65 percent
These figures reflect enduring public admiration for presidents associated with national unity, wartime leadership, or foundational moments in U.S. history.
Mixed results for modern presidents
Of the 20 presidents included in the poll, 11 received net positive ratings overall. Among those who served within the last half-century, three stand out as having positive net approval:
-
Ronald Reagan: +22
-
Jimmy Carter: +6
-
Barack Obama: +15
These results suggest that while modern presidencies are often polarizing during their time in office, some figures gain more favorable retrospective assessments as time passes.
However, several other recent presidents remain in negative territory alongside Trump and Biden. These include:
-
Lyndon B. Johnson (–1)
-
George H. W. Bush (–12)
-
Bill Clinton (–3)
The presence of multiple recent presidents in the negative column reflects a broader trend of partisan division and reevaluation of presidential legacies.
What the poll suggests about public sentiment
Taken together, the YouGov findings point to a pattern of declining public esteem for contemporary presidents compared with earlier historical figures. While leaders such as Lincoln, Washington, and Kennedy continue to benefit from broadly shared admiration, more recent presidents are judged through a sharply polarized political lens.
Trump’s particularly high share of “poor” ratings indicates that he remains one of the most divisive figures in modern American politics. At the same time, Biden’s low net rating suggests that dissatisfaction extends beyond a single presidency and may reflect broader frustrations with political leadership in the current era.
A snapshot, not a final verdict
As with any public opinion poll, the results represent a snapshot of attitudes at a specific moment in time rather than a definitive historical ranking. Presidential reputations often evolve over decades as new information emerges, political contexts shift, and generational perspectives change.
Still, the survey offers a clear indication that, at least for now, Americans tend to place both Trump and Biden closer to the bottom than the top when comparing them to their predecessors in the Oval Office.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
