Presidential Popularity: Who Really Struggles Most?

Gallup, the famous pollster that started measuring how people feel about presidents back in 1938, said on February 11 it would stop tracking these scores. The change marks a shift in what the company wants to study, according to its own statement. The idea of polling presidents began when George Gallup asked Americans if they approved of Franklin Roosevelt’s job. Since then, every president has had a number that shows how the public rates their performance. These ratings do more than just show who is liked or disliked. They often mirror the country’s mood during tough times, such as economic downturns, wars or deep political splits.Looking at the data from 1945 onward, one name stands out. Harry Truman’s approval dipped to just 22% in a Gallup survey held from February 9‑14, 1952. The low score reflected a mix of a slowing economy, the Korean War, labor unrest and scandals in Washington at the end of his second term. Donald Trump is not the lowest, but he is the first president to fall below 50% during his first term and again in the first year of a second term. That shows how fragile approval can be. The end of Gallup’s presidential ratings means we will have to look at other ways to gauge how well leaders are doing.