Dec 30, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Gallup: Trump and Obama tie as America's most admired man

Obama and Trump at Trump's 2017 inauguration. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump and former President Obama shared the honors as America's most admired man in 2019 in Gallup's annual poll.

The big picture: With both receiving the support of 18% of Americans, it's Obama's 12th time in the top slot — and Trump's first. Trump had previously come in second place for the last four years.

  • The results skewed heavily along partisan lines as 41% of Democrats and just 3% of Republicans chose Obama, while 45% of Republicans and just 2% of Democrats chose Trump.
  • Former first lady Michelle Obama took the top spot as America's most admired woman. She was the only woman to poll in double digits.

Most admired man:

  • 1 (tie). Barack Obama (18%)
  • 1 (tie). Donald Trump (18%)
  • 3 (tie). Jimmy Carter (2%)
  • 3 (tie). Elon Musk (2%)
  • 5. Bill Gates (2%)
  • 6. Pope Francis (1%)
  • 7. Bernie Sanders (1%)
  • 8. Adam Schiff (1%)
  • 9. The Dalai Lama (1%)
  • 10. Warren Buffett (<1%)

Most admired woman:

  • 1. Michelle Obama (10%)
  • 2. Melania Trump (5%)
  • 3. Oprah Winfrey (3%)
  • 4. Hillary Clinton (3%)
  • 5. Greta Thunberg (3%)
  • 6. Queen Elizabeth II (2%)
  • 7. Nancy Pelosi (2%)
  • 8. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2%)
  • 9. Elizabeth Warren (1%)
  • 10 (tie). Angela Merkel (1%)
  • 10 (tie). Nikki Haley (1%)

Go deeper: Last year's results from Gallup

Go deeper