Trump's approval ratings jump in post-election poll, while Biden's figures sink to 4-year low

An Emerson College poll found both men trending in opposite directions, with Trump's favorability jumping six points to 54% after the Nov. 5 election. Biden, on the other hand, has a 36% job approval rating. 

Disapproval of Biden remains steady at 52%, the poll found. 

"Trump's favorability varies significantly by gender, race and age," said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. "Trump's strongest age cohort is among voters 40-59, with 60% viewing him favorably, compared to 48% among those over 70. Notably, his favorability has risen among younger voters, with 55% of those under 30 expressing a favorable opinion."

Trump polled best with men at 61%, compared to 48% of women. In terms of race, 59% of White voters viewed Trump positively, compared to 53% of Hispanics and 28% of Black voters. 

When asked if they were surprised by the results of the 2024 election, 46% of respondents said they were, while 54% were not. 

"There is a sharp difference in reaction to the election results based on who voters supported: 67% of Harris voters were surprised by the results, while 71% of Trump voters were not surprised by his victory," Kimball said. 

Looking ahead to 2028, voters were asked about a hypothetical field of candidates.