While some recent polls claim Donald Trump ranks as the second-most popular U.S. President of the 21st century, other reputable polls and rankings contradict this, showing lower popularity compared to contemporaries like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
Misleading
Trump ranks as second-most popular president of 21st century in new poll.
Donald Trump Second-Most Popular President of 21st Century, Poll Finds - Newsweek
Source: newsweek.com
At a glance
Verified September 2, 2025Key Evidence
Newsweek and MEAWW News cite a Quantus Insights poll placing Trump second after Obama.
newsweek.comnewsweek.comDonald Trump Second-Most Popular President of 21st Century, Poll Finds
news.meaww.comnews.meaww.comDonald Trump ranks as second-most popular president of 21st century in new poll
Contradictory YouGov data shows Trump below Biden and Clinton in popularity.
Gallup historical approval ratings show Trump as one of the lowest-rated new presidents since 1953.
news.gallup.comnews.gallup.comPresidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump
The Independent reports record low approval ratings for Trump during his second term.
independent.co.ukindependent.co.ukTrump’s approval rating plummets to record second term low, new poll says
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple sources report that a new poll, specifically from Quantus Insights as cited by Newsweek and MEAWW News, ranks Donald Trump as the second-most popular president of the 21st century, behind Barack Obama. These reports highlight Trump ranking above George W. Bush and Joe Biden in overall favorability.newsweek.comnewsweek.comDonald Trump Second-Most Popular President of 21st Century, Poll Finds
news.meaww.comnews.meaww.comDonald Trump ranks as second-most popular president of 21st century in new poll+1 more
However, other credible sources present conflicting data. For example, a separate Newsweek article referencing YouGov polling shows Trump ranking below Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton in popularity. This directly contradicts the claim that Trump is second-most popular.newsweek.comnewsweek.comDonald Trump Drops Below Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton in Popularity Ranking
Additionally, Gallup data indicates Trump's approval ratings have historically been low compared to other presidents since 1953, suggesting a less favorable overall public perception.news.gallup.comnews.gallup.comPresidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump
The New York Times provides ongoing tracking of Trump's approval ratings but does not confirm a ranking placing him second in popularity for the entire 21st century.nytimes.comnytimes.comPresident Trump Approval Rating: Latest Polls
The Independent reports a recent plummet in Trump's approval ratings to record lows during his second term, further complicating claims of high popularity.independent.co.ukindependent.co.ukTrump’s approval rating plummets to record second term low, new poll says
The discrepancies likely arise from differences in polling methodology, sample populations, timing, and question framing. The poll claiming Trump is second-most popular appears to be less widely cited or corroborated by major polling organizations.
In summary, while there is some evidence from specific polls supporting the claim that Trump ranks second in popularity among 21st-century presidents, significant contradictory evidence from other reputable polls and sources indicates this claim is not broadly supported or representative of general public opinion. Therefore, the statement is misleading without additional context about which poll is referenced and its methodology.
Primary trail
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