A new national survey has produced an unexpected ranking that is turning heads across Washington — and it puts President Donald Trump in second place behind an unlikely figure.
According to a freshly released poll from Gallup, Americans currently give the highest approval rating among major U.S. leaders to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The survey measured public approval of 13 prominent political and government figures, including President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Cabinet members, congressional leaders, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Unexpected Results From Voters
Gallup found that just over 40 percent of Americans approve of Powell’s job performance — a higher rating than any other official tested in the poll. Support for Powell crossed party lines, with approval coming from Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike.
Only one other official cleared the 40 percent threshold: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has remained a steady presence on the world stage amid ongoing global tensions.
President Trump followed closely behind, earning approval from roughly 36 percent of respondents. While that places him second overall, it also reflects the sharply divided political climate as Trump continues pushing his economic and policy agenda during his return to office.
At the bottom of the list was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose approval rating fell below 30 percent.
Trump and the Fed: A Complicated Relationship
Powell’s popularity comes at a time when President Trump has publicly challenged the Federal Reserve’s approach to interest rates. Trump has repeatedly argued that rates should have been reduced earlier to better support economic growth, American businesses, and working families.
In recent months, the Federal Reserve has moved toward that position. Policymakers approved three consecutive interest-rate cuts, each by a quarter of a percentage point. The federal funds rate now sits between approximately 3.5 percent and 3.75 percent.
A Major Decision Ahead
With Powell’s current term as Fed chair set to expire in May, President Trump is expected to name a successor in the coming months — a decision that could have significant implications for inflation, borrowing costs, retirement savings, and the broader U.S. economy.
Potential candidates reportedly under consideration include National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh, and current Fed board member Christopher Waller.
How the Poll Was Conducted
The Gallup survey was conducted between December 1 and December 15 through telephone interviews with 1,016 American adults. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.