The Most Popular U.S. Presidents

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. At least, that is, for former presidents of the United States who have now left office. According to a poll by Gallup, conducted in June 2023, job approval ratings tend to improve for ex-presidents with time. In the cases of Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, public perceptions improved by at least 10 percentage points between 2023 and the first time respondents were polled on each figurehead after leaving the White House.

As the following chart shows, JFK is by far the most popular of the most recent polled presidents with a 90 percent approval rating. Bill Clinton has sunk down the list in recent years, losing four percentage points since 2018 after an earlier seven-point loss in his rating between 2010 and 2018. Trump and Nixon come in last place, with 46 percent and 32 percent of approval, respectively, and are the only two in the survey to receive disapproval from a majority. Joe Biden is not included on this roundup since he is still in office, but in the latest Gallup poll on his popularity he received just 41 percent of support.

Today is Presidents’ Day in the United States. The national holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of February each year and honors those who have stood as the country’s leader since its founding.