President-elect Donald Trump’s position in the public eye has undergone a remarkable transformation in the wake of a decisive electoral victory and an unprecedented political comeback. For a figure who has been among the most polarizing in modern American politics, recent polling data reflects a shift few anticipated: a net-positive favorability rating.
According to the RealClearPolitics (RCP) polling average, 49.4% of Americans view Trump favorably, compared to 47.4% who hold an unfavorable opinion. This gives him a net-positive rating of +2.0%. This marks the first time in his political career that Trump’s favorability has entered positive territory, a dramatic reversal from his standings in previous years.
The data underscores a long-term trend that has been building steadily. On April 8, 2016, during his first presidential campaign, Trump faced a staggering -35.2% net favorability. Even as recently as January 11, 2023, Trump’s net favorability remained deeply underwater at -20.6%. By the time of the November 2024 election, when Trump secured his return to the White House, the gap had narrowed to -7.0%. Now, as of December 13, 2024, the figure has flipped to +2.0%.
The magnitude of Trump’s favorability shift aligns with a broader political swing to the right in the