President-elect Donald Trump has reached a major political milestone, marking the first time his favorability rating has surpassed his unfavorability rating in the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average of polls.
This achievement, occurring in the first week of December, highlights a significant shift in public perception as Trump prepares to take office once again.
On December 4, the RCP average recorded Trump’s favorability rating at 49.1%, compared to an unfavorability rating of 47.6%. By December 11, his favorability had climbed to 49.4%, while his unfavorability rating dropped slightly to 47.4%. This marks the highest level of public approval Trump has achieved in his political career.
The journey to this point has been remarkable. When Trump launched his 2015 presidential campaign, his favorability rating stood at just 22.7%, with an unfavorable rating of 62%.
Throughout his first term and during President Joe Biden’s tenure, Trump’s favorability rating never surpassed 45%. However, after hitting a low of 36.8% in December 2022, his numbers began a gradual ascent. By October 12, 2024, he had crossed the 45% threshold, though his unfavorability rating still lingered at 52%.
Trump’s favorability surge gained momentum in the weeks leading up to the November election. By December 4, the gap closed, and his favorability rating overtook his unfavorability rating—a feat unprecedented in his political history.
This historic turnaround comes after nearly a decade of relentless challenges, including two impeachments, extensive media scrutiny, and legal battles. Despite these obstacles, Trump has maintained an unyielding determination to succeed, prompting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to draw a comparison to legendary mythic figures.
Gingrich remarked, “There’s no practical way that you can explain Trump within a normal political structure. This is a mythic figure, almost like the various Scandinavian Beowulfs and other kinds of sagas.”
Meanwhile, Democrats are grappling with their recent election loss. Speaking at the Democratic National Committee’s holiday party, President Joe Biden urged his party to recover quickly and engage with voters.
“We all get knocked down. My dad was saying, ‘When you get knocked down, you just got to get up. Get up,’” Biden said. “The measure of a person or a party is how fast they get back up.”
Biden encouraged Democrats to focus on organizing and connecting with the American people as they regroup for the battles ahead.
As Trump’s favorability ratings continue to rise, his resilience and ability to connect with a significant portion of the American public remain central to his political narrative.