President-elect Donald Trump is riding high after his decisive November 5 electoral victory. He marked another milestone with his selection as TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” and celebrated by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Public sentiment toward Trump appears to be shifting, even among those previously opposed to him. Whether this is a genuine change of heart or a matter of political expediency remains open for debate.
Trump also reached an extraordinary milestone recently. For the first time since announcing his candidacy in 2015, his approval rating has moved into positive territory. According to RealClearPolitics, Trump crossed the threshold on December 6, 2024. As of December 11, his favorability rating sits at +2 percent, with 49.4 percent favorable compared to 47.4 percent unfavorable.
This marks a dramatic turnaround from his early numbers. On July 2, 2015, his unfavorable rating led his favorable rating by a staggering 39.3 percentage points. The closest Trump previously came to a positive approval rating was on December 31, 2016 (-3.9 percent) and April 25, 2022 (-4.6 percent).
In contrast, outgoing President Joe Biden faces a -16.5 percent favorability rating. As of November 6, Biden’s job approval stood at 41.1 percent—significantly lower than Trump’s 45.9 percent at the same point in his presidency. For comparison, Barack Obama held a 50.1 percent approval rating, and George W. Bush had 51.5 percent.
With just 38 days left in Biden’s presidency, much can still happen. However, while Biden limps to the finish line, Trump appears poised for a soaring start to his return to the White House.
