More Americans view former President Donald Trump favorably than unfavorably for the first time a significant period. The shift has come amid Vice President Kamala Harris’ difficulties in retaining a positive public perception.
According to recent Gallup data, 50% of Americans now view Trump positively, while 48% have an unfavorable opinion. The turnaround contrasts sharply with that of his 36% approval rating prior to the 2016 election, when Hillary Clinton was viewed as the likely winner.
Successful presidential candidates historically have Gallup favorability ratings above 60%.
However, negative sentiment has persisted toward both major party candidates in the recent election cycles. Trump now holds the highest favorability rating of his campaigns, with 31% very favorable and 19% moderately favorable opinions.
No modern presidential candidate faced unfavorable ratings above 30% prior to 2016. Trump has surpassed this in all three campaigns, as did Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris today.
With limited room for further decline, Trump has looked to draw the votes of undecided voters. His proposed economic reforms, including tax breaks for automobile purchases, are expected to resonate with a wide range of voters.
Trump’s pledge to end conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East has also drawn bipartisan support. On the other hand, Harris has consistently struggled to connect with young, pro-Palestinian voters who are expected to skip the election.
