Half of Americans in a new poll predict history will see Donald Trump as a “failed” president.
But most Republicans would back him in 2024
President Donald Trump leaves the White House next month with the country more sharply divided than when he moved in and amid caustic assessments of his record in office, a new USA TODay/suffolk University Poll finds. Fifty percent of Americans now predict history will see him as a “failed” president.
The survey, taken in the waning weeks of his administration, shows the risks of actions he is contemplating on his way out the door. Americans overwhelmingly say issuing a preemptive pardon for himself would be an abuse of presidential power, and an even bigger majority, including most Republicans, say he should attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration to demonstrate the peaceful transfer of power.
Trump hasn’t announced whether he will attend the Jan. 20 inauguration, and White House officials say he has been weighing pardons for himself as well as for family members, friends and associates.
“The last four years have been lacking in compassion and empathy, lacking in anything other than advancing the personal interests of President Trump and his friends and allies and family,” said Babette Salus, 60, a retired attorney and Biden voter from Springfield, Illinois, who was among those surveyed.
The poll of 1,000 registered voters, taken Dec. 16-20, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Asked how history would judge Trump’s presidency, 16% predict he will be seen as a great president, 13% as a good president, 16% as a fair president, and 50% as a failed president. Five per
cent are undecided.
Trump continues to hold a powerful position within the GOP, however.
While Americans by an overwhelming 70%-26% say it is time for Trump to concede the election, now that the Electoral College has voted, Republicans by double digits, 57%-37%, say he shouldn’t.
Indeed, most Republicans are ready to vote for Trump again. If he is the party’s nominee in 2024, 71% of Republicans say they would support him, and another 16% say they would consider it. Just 10% say they wouldn’t.
That said, Republicans aren’t convinced Trump in the end will run again. While 48% predict he will be the party’s nominee in four years, 35% say he won’t.
Trump’s attacks on the election have failed in court but succeeded in sowing
doubts about the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency, even though both Republican and Democratic officials in battleground states have declared that the election was conducted fairly and honestly.
By 62%-37%, Americans believe Biden was legitimately elected president. The fact that more than a third of the electorate – including 78% of Republicans – say he didn’t legitimately win the office looms as a significant political hurdle, particularly for a president who will take office during a deadly pandemic and an economy in upheaval.
In other ways, however, Biden’s standing has improved since his election. By 20 points, 51%-31%, those surveyed approve of the job he has done since the election. His favorable-unfavorable rating is now a net 10 points positive, 49%-39%. In comparison,
Trump’s is 15 points negative, 40%55%.
The coronavirus and its repercussions should top Biden’s agenda, voters say: 44% say his first focus should be controlling COVID-19. Another 26% say it should be creating and preserving jobs. Ranking third is improving access to health care, at 12%.
By 66%-27%, those surveyed predict that Biden will significantly dismantle Trump’s legacy, a view held across party lines.
Americans rank Trump’s economic record as his greatest achievement by far.
Nearly half of Republicans call the economy his greatest achievement, followed by foreign policy and his leadership in general. Among Democrats, half replied “none” when asked about Trump’s top achievement; economic policy was second, cited by 22%.
h By 66%-24%, Americans say he should attend the inauguration of his successor next month. There was little partisan differences on that question, with 65% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans saying he should attend.
h By 62%-25%, those surveyed say it would be an abuse of a president’s powers if Trump issues a preemptive pardon for himself. Nearly every Democrat agreed with that; a majority of Republicans, 56%-24%, said it would be an appropriate use of his power.
h By 58%-29%, those surveyed say it would be an abuse of his power to issue a significant number of pardons of his children, top aides and others.
When Trump took office four years ago, 59% told the USA TODAY poll that the country’s divisions were deeper than they had been in the past. That view has only intensified. Now even more, 67%, say the divisions are deeper, a view held by overwhelming majorities across party lines.