Abraham Lincoln Dominates Presidential Rankings

According to the survey, a commanding 74% of American voters rate Lincoln as either “outstanding” or “above average.”

Only 3% consider him below average — a remarkable consensus in an era when nearly everything feels divided.

Lincoln’s reputation as the president who preserved the Union continues to resonate across generations, particularly with older voters who view strong executive leadership during national crisis as essential.

Close behind Lincoln were:

John F. Kennedy — 66% positive
George Washington — 65% positive

These presidents benefit from historical distance — something modern leaders simply don’t enjoy.

Where President Trump Ranked

President Donald Trump received a 35% “outstanding” or “above average” rating in the poll.

Meanwhile:

54% rated his presidency “poor” or “below average”
9% called it “average”
2% were unsure

For comparison:

Joe Biden earned 23% positive ratings
Richard Nixon earned just 12% positive ratings

Trump outperformed both Biden and Nixon — but still trailed far behind America’s early presidents.

The Real Story: Partisan Divide

Here’s where things get important for context.

Pollsters made it clear that modern presidents are judged almost entirely through a partisan lens.

Democrats rank:

Barack Obama
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Jimmy Carter

as their top presidents.

Republicans rank:

Washington
Ronald Reagan
President Trump

as their preferred leaders.

In other words: Americans still strongly support presidents from their own party.

That means Trump’s lower overall ranking reflects national division — not necessarily weakness within the Republican base.

Approval Ratings Add More Pressure

Separate polling from Pew Research shows President Trump’s approval rating at 37%.

On immigration — a cornerstone issue of his administration — surveys show 53% disapproval in one recent national poll.

Additionally, AP-NORC found that 6 in 10 independents disapprove of his handling of immigration policy.

These numbers have reportedly caused some Republican lawmakers to privately worry about the upcoming midterm elections.

One anonymous GOP lawmaker told reporters that “you can feel when the water temperature changes.”

Why Historical Presidents Always Rank Higher

There’s a clear pattern in presidential rankings:

Presidents who served before living memory — especially Washington and Lincoln — tend to avoid modern partisan scrutiny.

They aren’t tied to today’s inflation debates, border policies, or global conflicts.

Modern presidents, especially high-profile leaders like Trump, face daily media cycles, social media battles, and nonstop coverage — which often drives polarization.

That makes side-by-side comparisons inherently difficult.

What This Means Going Into the Midterms

Polls are snapshots — not final verdicts.

Presidential rankings often shift dramatically years after leaders leave office. In fact, Ronald Reagan’s historical ranking improved significantly over time.

For conservative voters age 50 and older, the bigger question may not be historical comparison — but whether current policies are delivering on issues that matter most:

Economic growth
Border security
National strength
Energy independence
Retirement stability

As midterms approach, those issues will likely matter far more than where Trump lands in a historical ranking survey.

Poll Details

The YouGov poll was conducted February 2–5 with 2,255 respondents.
Margin of error: ±3 percentage points.

Final Thoughts

Presidential rankings often reflect emotion as much as policy.

While Lincoln and Washington enjoy near-universal praise, modern presidents — especially bold reformers like Trump — face sharper divisions.

Whether this poll signals lasting erosion or temporary dissatisfaction remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear: In today’s political climate, no president is judged in a vacuum.