During Donald Trump’s time in office, his job approval rating never reached 50%, but now more positive retrospective assessments of his presidency are causing concern for Democrats, especially as President Joe Biden’s approval ratings remain low. A CNN poll showed 55% of Americans viewed Trump’s presidency as a success, a significant increase from when he left office in January 2021. To secure a second term, Democrats feel the positive views of Trump cannot be allowed to stand.
Typically, approval ratings of presidents rise after they leave office, but Trump’s potential return to the White House makes the public’s shifting views more crucial than ever. Biden’s campaign has focused less on challenging Trump’s record and more on highlighting his own policies. However, this is changing as efforts are increasing to contrast Biden’s record with some of Trump’s controversial initiatives, particularly in key areas like health care and the economy.
Trump’s retrospective approval ratings have improved since leaving office, with polls showing more positive views on his presidency. Surveys indicate that many voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, immigration, and crime. The recent CNN poll showed a large percentage of Americans viewing Trump’s presidency as a success, far exceeding those who viewed Biden’s time in office positively.
The highly polarized political atmosphere has led to a trend where discontent with Biden is boosting Trump’s retrospective approval ratings. Voters tend to assess the current president in contrast to the previous one, with partisan loyalties influencing these assessments. Trump’s perceived strength and success compared to Biden’s weaknesses may be contributing to his growing popularity among voters.
While Biden tries to focus on positive messages about his policies and plans for the future, Trump’s record remains a significant factor in voters’ minds. The challenge for Democrats is to combat the positive impressions of Trump’s economic performance and remind voters of the other aspects of his presidency that were less favorable. Highlighting the controversies and failures of Trump’s time in office may be crucial for Democrats in the upcoming election.
Democrats acknowledge the need to improve views on Biden’s economic record but recognize the challenge of tarnishing the positive impressions voters have of the economy under Trump. Rather than erasing positive views on Trump’s economic performance, Democrats may have more success by emphasizing the negative aspects of his presidency. It remains to be seen whether voters will prioritize concerns about Trump’s past or current issues where they express more faith in Trump’s leadership.
Reminding voters of Trump’s prior record may strengthen Biden’s warnings about the future and pushback against a potential Trump comeback. Highlighting Trump’s policies on key issues like abortion, immigration, and democracy may sway voters, particularly in key constituencies that have drifted towards Trump. However, uncertainties remain about how voters will prioritize concerns in the upcoming election and how Biden’s present may have shifted what swing voters care about most regarding Trump’s past.
