Fifty-one percent of Americans approve of the way President-elect Trump has handled his presidential transition, according to a new Gallup survey.
It’s a slightly higher number than in December 2016, when 48 percent said they felt positive about the Trump transition compared to 48 percent who felt negative.
In the new Gallup poll, 44 percent disapprove of the transition.
Still, the 51 percent who approve of Trump’s transtion pales compared to some other presidents.
Sixty-eight percent approved of how President Biden handled his transition in 2020. Eighty-three percent approved of Barack Obama’s transition in December 2008 after his election win.
In January 2001, former President George W. Bush received 65 percent approval for his transition, and former President Bill Clinton had a 67 percent approval rating for his presidential transitionin December of 1992.
Gallup noted that Trump’s uptick in ratings this year compared to in 2016 and 2017 are largely due to Republicans’ support.
Ninety-seven percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of his transition, which is more than 10 percentage points higher than in December 2016, when 86 percent approved, the poll found.
Independents’ support of Trump’s handling of the transition is slightly higher than it was during his first term, 47 percent now compared to 46 percent in 2016.
Gallup said Trump’s approval ratings among the voting bloc is less than other incoming presidents, as no less than 59 percent of independents have approved of other presidential transitions.
Democrats are less likely to approve of Trump’s transition, with 10 percent approving now compared to 17 percent during Trump’s first presidency, according to the poll.
The Gallup poll was conducted from Dec. 2 to 18 among 1,003 adults aged 18 and older nationwide. The margin of error is 4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
