Last Updated on June 5, 2025 by ThePublic
Here are five presidents with the lowest approval ratings around two months into their terms. At least Trump is consistent:
Donald Trump (First Term, 2017)
Donald Trump (Second Term, 2025)
Bill Clinton (1993)
Joe Biden (2021)
Seems we just go lower and lower each year regardless. And so you can verify and none of the ‘fake news’ BS:
Here are five presidents with the lowest approval ratings around two months into their terms:
Donald Trump (First Term, 2017)
Approval Rating: Around 45% (Gallup, late March 2017).
Trump’s first term began on January 20, 2017. By late March, Gallup polls showed his approval at 45%, dipping further to 41% by early April. This was historically low for a new president, as most start above 50%. His polarizing campaign and early actions, like the travel ban, contributed to this. Unlike others on this list, he never reached 50% at any point in his first term.
Donald Trump (Second Term, 2025)
Approval Rating: Approximately 47% (based on early 2025 polls).
For his second term, starting January 20, 2025, early polls (e.g., Gallup’s January 21-27 poll at 47%, Pew’s late January to early February at 47%) suggest Trump’s approval hovers around 47%-48% in the first month, with some later March polls (e.g., Newsweek’s average of 47% by mid-March) indicating a slight dip or stabilization. This remains low compared to most presidents’ honeymoon periods, though higher than his first-term start. I’m including this as a provisional data point since it’s the term you’re referencing.
George H.W. Bush (1989)
Approval Rating: Around 51% (Gallup, late March 1989).
Bush took office on January 20, 1989. His initial approval was 51% in Gallup’s first poll (late January), but by late March, it remained steady around that mark before climbing later. While not as low as Trump’s, this is among the lower starts for a modern president, reflecting a lack of a strong initial boost compared to predecessors like Reagan (55%) or Eisenhower (68%).
Bill Clinton (1993)
Approval Rating: Around 49%-53% (Gallup, late March 1993).
Clinton’s term began on January 20, 1993. Gallup’s early polls showed him at 53% in February, but by late March, some polls dipped to 49% due to controversies like the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and economic concerns. This is on the lower end for a new president, though still above Trump’s figures.
Joe Biden (2021)
Approval Rating: Around 53%-57% (Gallup, late March 2021).
Biden took office on January 20, 2021. Gallup’s first poll in late January showed 57%, and by late March, it averaged around 53%-54% across sources like RealClearPolitics. While not as low as Trump’s, it’s modest compared to predecessors like Obama (61%) or Kennedy (72%) at similar points, reflecting early polarization.
Notes and Context:
Why These Five? Most presidents (e.g., Kennedy at 72%, Eisenhower at 68%, Obama at 68%) start with approval ratings well above 50%, often in the 60s or higher. The ones listed here are outliers with sub-50% or barely-above-50% ratings early on. Trump’s first and second terms stand out as the lowest, with no other modern president consistently starting below 50%.
Historical Lows Later in Terms: Presidents like Truman (22% in 1952) and George W. Bush (25% in 2008) hit much lower points, but these were late in their terms, not at the two-month mark. Early-term data is what matters here.
Trump’s Second Term Variability: As of March 25, 2025, Trump’s exact approval could range from 42% (Quinnipiac, mid-March) to 50% (Trafalgar, early March), depending on the poll. I’ve used a midpoint of 47% based on available trends, but it’s still fluid.