Staff Reports
A recent Gallup poll has delivered a jaw-dropping verdict: President Joe Biden ranks as the second-worst president in American history. Despite Biden and his team’s attempts to polish his legacy and claim he will be remembered as one of the greats, the American public seems to disagree. Approximately 54 percent of respondents believe that history will judge Biden as either “below average” or “poor,” which is quite a diplomatic way of saying he’s in the running for a presidential participation trophy, if that trophy were made of concrete and weighed a ton.
Among those polled, a paltry 19 percent think Biden will be remembered fondly as “outstanding” or “above average.” Comparatively, many still hold significant respect for past leaders. For example, John F. Kennedy garnered an impressive 68 percent favorability. Meanwhile, Biden’s current standing reveals that he shares the spotlight with the infamous Richard Nixon, a man whose presidency was synonymous with scandal and resignation. Biden’s net approval rating sits at a dismal -35, only slightly better than Nixon’s -42. If only they handed out participation medals for historic failures, the trophy cabinet would be overflowing.
The downward spiral of Biden’s approval ratings aligns with a slew of contentious issues plaguing his administration: the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, incessant inflation that would make even the most hardened economist weep, and a staggering increase in homelessness, largely attributed to a surge in migrants. Under Biden’s watch, America has faced a perfect storm—troubled borders, precarious foreign policy, and self-inflicted economic wounds. It raises the question: are Democrats truly on board with this administration, or are they just holding their breath in the hopes that their next candidate will emerge sooner rather than later?
Among Democrats, enthusiasm for Biden appears lukewarm at best. Unlike their fervent support for past leaders such as Barack Obama, their current feelings towards Biden suggest a reluctance to party on in the shadow of a sinking ship. Strangely enough, Biden is the only recent Democratic president to enjoy net-negative approval ratings among independents. It seems like a “Mission: Impossible” sequel, where independents are the ones who refuse to join the ride.
Gallup: Americans to Remember Joe Biden as Second-Worst President in History https://t.co/multuKofxr
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) January 7, 2025
In the grand theater of American politics, the audience is not expected to be forgiving of Biden’s presidency. There’s a chance history might evaluate him similarly to the notorious Nixon. As Donald Trump aptly put it, Biden’s record has made him the “worst president in the history of America, a complete and total disaster.” Yet, the list of presidential failures is long, featuring other illustrious names who also turned the office into a case study for future historians in what not to do. From Andrew Johnson to Barack Obama, listing the “worst” is akin to choosing between unsavory snacks.
As public sentiment continues to hover over Biden’s legacy like storm clouds, it’s difficult to imagine what could save his presidency from the grim future the Gallup poll predicts. Those eager to rewrite history might want to start looking for alternate versions of it, because, judging by the current data, the American people are preparing their own crash course in presidential evaluation—and Biden is failing spectacularly.
