Barack Obama vs. Donald Trump: New Poll Reveals Favorability Gap

Favorability Ratings Compared

A new Marquette University poll shows that Americans view former President Barack Obama more favorably than President Donald Trump. According to the survey, 42 percent of respondents said they view Trump favorably, while 57 percent viewed him unfavorably, leaving him with a net rating of -15. In contrast, Obama was seen positively by 57 percent of Americans and negatively by 40 percent, giving him a net favorability rating of +17. PD-US / Wikimedia

Why the Numbers Matter

Trump’s favorability has become a key measure of Republican support heading into critical gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia next month, as well as the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats hope that associating GOP candidates with Trump, whose popularity has slipped since his return to office earlier this year, could help them secure victories in closely contested races. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Other Presidents in the Poll

The poll compared public perceptions of presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan. Reagan emerged with the highest rating, with 58 percent favorable and 30 percent unfavorable, resulting in a +28 net score. Former President George H.W. Bush matched Obama with a +17 rating, while Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each registered a +8. At the bottom was former President Joe Biden, who left office earlier this year with only 37 percent favorable and 61 percent unfavorable—a net of -24. PD-US / Wikimedia

Expert Analysis

Meena Bose, executive dean of Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, told Newsweek that Obama’s enduring popularity stems from his campaign legacy. She explained that Obama’s “personal appeal, inspirational rhetoric, and unanticipated success in the 2008 presidential race continue to have strong public support.” Bose added, “The promise of hope and change are defining features of the Obama presidential campaign and still influence assessments of his presidency.” Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Obama’s Continued Influence

Obama has remained a popular figure since leaving office in 2017. A Gallup survey earlier in 2025 found that 59 percent of Americans viewed him favorably, making him the most popular living president at the time. That poll noted a 36 percent unfavorable view and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. vargas2040, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Broader Implications

The Marquette poll surveyed 1,005 adults nationwide between September 5 and September 24, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. The results suggest that Democrats see an opportunity to reclaim voters who once supported Obama but later backed Trump. Obama himself has been outspoken on current issues, recently posting on X that “Republicans can’t win on their policies, so they are trying to dodge accountability by rewriting the rules.” PD-US / Wikimedia