Staff ReportsDonald Trump is experiencing quite the polling revolution, and it seems that no one is more surprised than his critics. While they were once throwing everything from impeachment attempts to wild conspiracy theories at him, Trump is now basking in the glow of a net-positive favorability rating. That’s right: for the first time in his long and tumultuous political career, he’s swimming above water in the RealClearPolitics average, which displays a favorable rating of about 49.4% against an unfavorable 47.4%. This marks a pivotal moment for a man who has faced a horde of opposition, often finding himself on the other side of public opinion.
Surprisingly, this surge in popularity comes as Trump prepares to reclaim the White House. Many pundits are chattering about the significant momentum he’s built: from a mere 35% favorability during his 2016 campaign to a respectable 40% during his initial term. And now? He has managed to bump those numbers to over 45% in this current campaign cycle. So what’s behind this sudden wave of approval? A combination of the mudslinging from his opponents, the pitiful state of the current administration, and several high-profile incidents of attempted sabotage against him might just have worked in his favor. When your rivals fail miserably to take you down, it tends to elevate your standing among the populace.
🚨 JUST IN: For the first time in his entire political career, Donald J. Trump has a net-positive favorability rating in the RealClearPolitics average.
🔴 Favorable: 49.4% (+2)
🔵 Unfavorable: 47.4% pic.twitter.com/wLTO32PVMG— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 13, 2024
The change in sentiment is not just limited to a few conservative voters. The younger demographic seems to have joined the fray, with Trump boasting a 51% approval rating among voters aged 18-34. This actually puts him ahead of the Democrats, whose approval ratings for their party land at a dismal 37%—anyone see a trend here? Meanwhile, the GOP is holding its own with a favorable rating of 48%. It appears the youth are looking for something more than empty promises, and Trump’s appeal may just be enough to sway them back into the Republican fold.
All of this has unfolded while the current president attempts to keep a low profile, mumbling a few remarks here and there, and throwing around pardons that don’t exactly inspire confidence. Instead, it’s Trump who is taking the stage—metaphorically and literally—despite not yet being in office. Recent press conferences have demonstrated Trump’s ability to command attention and support, while his opponents struggle to keep their narrative alive as their credibility dwindles.
As November’s election results rolled in, it became clearer than ever that this cultural tide has shifted decisively in Trump’s favor. With a popular vote victory—narrow though it may be—he’s come full circle and is now, once again, the political titan of his own making. Observers can only wait with bated breath to see how this drama unfolds, and whether the old guard of the Democratic Party can respond effectively, or if they’ll just shuffle off into the sunset, leaving a wake of failed policies and empty rhetoric behind them. In any case, for Trump, this is not just a polling anomaly but a resurgence that promises to shake up the political landscape once more.
