US presidents ranked by approval ratings when they left office
Trump's approval ratings hit a new low. Here's how presidents from Harry Truman to Joe Biden performed at the end of their presidencies.
Richard Nixon received the lowest end-of-term approval rating at 24%, having resigned amid the Watergate scandal. Harry S. Truman trailed behind with a 32% approval rating as he left office in 1953. Jimmy Carter experienced a dip in popularity due to international crises and economic struggles, ending with a 34% approval rating in December 1980.
George H.W. Bush's approval rating hovered around 34% as he concluded his second term in January 2009. Donald Trump's disapproval rating of 62% in early 2021, following the Capitol riot, placed him second to Nixon in the rankings. Joe Biden concluded his presidency with a 40% approval rating in January 2021, as inflation, immigration, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza weighed on his popularity.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
