Polls Show Growing Share of Americans Say Biden Performed Better as President Than Trump

A growing portion of the U.S. public now says former President Joe Biden outperformed President Donald Trump while in office, according to multiple recent polls that reflect shifting public opinion ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and the ongoing political debate over both presidencies.

Survey data from national pollsters indicate rising comparisons of job performance that favor Biden’s tenure over Trump’s current administration.

One set of national polls suggests that voters now view Biden more positively than Trump on overall presidential job performance, a reversal from earlier in the year when Trump’s approval stood stronger among certain voters. The change in sentiment comes as Trump’s approval on key issues including immigration and border security has dropped significantly, with one Reuters/Ipsos poll finding his immigration policy approval at just 38 percent.

Another Economist/YouGov poll reported that a majority of Americans expressed disapproval of Trump’s job performance overall, a trend analysts say could be contributing to the perception that Biden’s administration, despite its own criticisms, is seen by more voters as having handled the presidency more effectively.

Political observers say these shifts in public opinion reflect broader dissatisfaction with the current political landscape, including the partial government shutdown and ongoing debates over immigration enforcement, which have become central issues for voters.