According to a recent Gallup survey, President Joe Biden’s third-year job approval rating averaged 39.8%, marking the lowest since President Carter. The data, from Jan. 20, 2023, to Jan. 19, 2024, reflects a challenging period for Biden, with his current approval at 41%. This places him below former President Trump’s third-year average of 42%, indicating a dip in approval amid various challenges.
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Biden’s Approval Trajectory
While Biden enjoyed higher average approval ratings than Trump in his first two years (48.9% in the first and 41% in the second), the third year saw a notable decline. The challenges faced during this period and a more polarized political environment contributed to the decrease in approval ratings.
Biden’s third-year struggles parallel President Carter’s historic lows during his third year, marked by the Iran hostage crisis, soaring gas prices, and double-digit inflation. The comparison underscores the significance of external factors influencing presidential approval ratings.
The Gallup analysis reveals a growing partisan divide in approval ratings. Biden’s third-year approval among Democrats reached 83%, the highest on record, while Republicans recorded the lowest at 5%. This trend emphasizes the deepening polarization in contemporary politics.
Trump vs. Biden: A Comparative View
Comparing Trump and Biden’s third-year averages, Trump secured a slightly higher approval rating at 42%. However, the survey highlights Trump’s record low third-year approval among Democrats at 7%, indicating a similar polarization trend.
Looking ahead to the 2024 election, The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling average indicates a close race between Trump and Biden. Trump leads with 43.8% support, while Biden trails at 41.6%. This suggests a competitive landscape, underscoring the potential significance of approval ratings in the upcoming election.
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