How Americans evaluate U.S. presidents and first ladies

[dalton99a]

FWIW

https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/54109-how-americans-evaluate-us-presidents-and-first-ladies

How Americans evaluate U.S. presidents and first ladies
Taylor Orth
February 13, 2026, 4:59 PM GMT-6

A new YouGov survey asked Americans to rate 20 U.S. presidents and 11 first ladies on a scale from outstanding to poor. Half of Americans rate Donald Trump as "poor," the most who do for any of the 20 presidents.

The three presidents rated as outstanding or above average by the highest shares of Americans among the 20 in the poll are Abraham Lincoln (74%), John F. Kennedy (66%), and George Washington (65%).

More recent presidents have many more detractors than do presidents from earlier in U.S. history, who greater shares of Americans are unsure about. 55% rate Donald Trump as poor (48%) or below average (6%), as do 50% about Joe Biden and 48% about Richard Nixon.










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[The Blue Flower]

1. Joe Biden made his positives look effortless

I can only think his super-competence at governing is the reason why he isn't better appreciated. After 50 years in government, he knew how to work the levers of power to the benefit of the country. The very wealthy owners of media wanted their pedo-felon to rule, so they magnified every misstep. I will always believe he was one of the great presidents. And I've been alive since Truman was in office.

[UpInArms]

3. Same

He truly was very competent, committed and compassionate

[JI7]

6. He mostly focused on the work itself and didn't do many

public appearances that keep him engaged with the public. This was one issue with him being older but he was never into things like that either. But a younger Biden would have done many appearances across the country which highlighted his accomplishments and just provided fun images to the public.

During Obama's time we saw a lot of him getting out . Even things like just going to a local food place and meeting other customers there and interacting with emolyees keeps the public engaged.

Even more important these days as people want entertainment in everything.

[Xavier Breath]

2. Interesting stuff, thanks for posting.

[IcyPeas]

4. Melania? Gimme a break. She doesn't do anything, she doesn't say anything.

But look at Michelle Obama. 💜

[Ping Tung]

5. Where's John Quincy Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams?