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Trump makes history for lowest approval rating in first 6 months

At the six-month mark of his presidency, America is becoming less impressed with Donald Trump's performance as president. And this is how he compares to his predecessors:

  • No other president has received an approval rating as low as Trump in their first six months in office.
  • Trump has received a lower approval rating than Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Gerald Ford ever had in office.
  • Many former presidents received their highest approval ratings early on, some within the first 6 months.
Expand chart
Data: The American Presidency Project, Gallup Poll; Note: Trump and Obama distributions are weekly averages from daily polls; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

It's not all bad: Trump has struggled to pass the key legislative items on his agenda, but he still has three and a half more years to push policy through and improve his ratings.

The best and worst ratings of the past nine presidents, and when.

Donald Trump

High: 46%, Day 2

Low: 35%, Day 65

Barack Obama

High: 69% — Day 2

Low: 38% — Day 942

George W. Bush

High: 89% — Day 380

Low: 25% — Day 2,813

Bill Clinton

High: 71% — Day 2,886

Low: 36% — Day 136

George H.W. Bush

High: 89% — Day 769

Low: 29% — Day 1,288

Ronald Reagan

High: 71% — Day 1,835

Low: 35% — Day 738

Jimmy Carter

High: 74% — Day 54

Low: 28% — Day 887

Gerald Ford

*Inaugurated August 9, 1974

High: 70% — Day 4

Low: 37% — Day 151

Richard Nixon

High: 66% — Day 1,464

Low: 22% — Day 1,808

Go deeper

Oriana Gonzalez
Updated 3 hours ago - World

In photos: Pope Francis spreads message of peace on first trip to Iraq

Pope Francis waving as he arrives near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira-l-Kubra), in the old city of Iraq's northern Mosul on March 7. Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis was on Sunday visiting areas of northern Iraq once held by Islamic State militants.

Why it matters: This is the first-ever papal trip to Iraq. The purpose of Francis' four-day visit is largely intended to reassure the country's Christian minority, who were violently persecuted by ISIS, which controlled the region from 2014-2017.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
6 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Cuomo faces fresh misconduct allegations from former aides

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a February press conference in New York City. Photo: Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was on Saturday facing fresh accusations of misconduct against his staff, including further allegations of inappropriate behavior against two more women. His office denies the claims.

Driving the news: The Washington Post reported Cuomo allegedly embraced an aide when he led the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and that two male staffers who worked for him in the governor's office accused him of routinely berating them "with explicit language."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
8 hours ago - Axios Twin Cities

In photos: Protesters rally for George Floyd ahead of Derek Chauvin's trial

Chaz Neal, a Redwing community activist, outside the Minnesota Governor's residence during a protest in support of George Floyd in St.Paul, Minnesota, on March 6. Photo: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Dozens of protesters were rallying outside the Minnesota governor's mansion in St Paul Saturday, urging justice for George Floyd ahead of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's trial over the 46-year-old's death.

The big picture: Chauvin faces charges for second-degree murder and manslaughter over Floyd's death last May, which ignited massive nationwide and global protests against racism and for police reform. His trial is due to start this Monday, with jury selection procedures.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow

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