NationStates

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:09 am**

So we often hear from liberals that Trump is Satan's incarnation and the most unpopular politician to ever walk to globe. In sharp contrast of course to people like Trudeau and Merkel who are a blessing upon us mere mortals.

But really - how does Trump compare to other world leaders and his predecessors?

Let's look at predecessors first. We are 18 months into the Trump presidency. At the moment, Gallup gives Trump a 45% approval rating, where we can compare him to Obama in June 2010. So where was Obama 18 months into his presidency? Well Gallup has this handy website where you can check archives, and we can scroll down to week 2010 Jun 21-27, where we find Obama's approval ratings to be ..... 45%. So there's no practical difference between public approval ratings of Obama and of Trump.

Unfortunately the Canadians are not masters of polling, with Global only doing approval opinion polls once per quarter. But we can see that universally-loved Trudeau's current approval rating is 44%, just below that of Trump.

In France Superman Macron enjoys an approval rating of sky-high 30%, while Theresa May sits on top of a very satisfied populace with about 29-34% of people showing their love for Dear Leader. The bicycle-loving environmentalist and Lover of the World Mark Rutte of Netherlands relishes a tsunami of applause whenever he goes out into the public, with an unforeseen 35% approval rating. Theresa May also blows Trump out of the water when it comes to party support - a humongous 70%! of Conservatives support her, compared to the measly 90% that Trump holds.

So what can we conclude from these numbers? Can we indeed conclude that the Western public is far more open to luvvies like Macron and Trudeau? Where would Clinton be sitting at this point in her presidency?

It seems rather weird that the most hated orange (perhaps after Annoying Orange - or not?) is by far the most popular politician anywhere in the Western world at the moment, no? What do you think?

In my opinion, Trump's initial disapproval only merely stems from a hate campaign before his presidency even began, that was far more extensive than for any other previous President, and only now people are waking up to who Trump is. Moreover, this level of partisanship / apathy is the new norm, and no politician will be able to achieve approval ratings anywhere close to two thirds et al., with Europe especially so fragmented between the left, centre, centre right and the right that approval of the majority is an impossible feat.

(Decided to create a new thread to get opinions on why Trump is apparently so unpopular after seeing a post criticising him as the most hated politician)

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:15 am**

Trumptonium1 wrote:So we often hear from liberals that Trump is Satan's incarnation and the most unpopular politician to ever walk to globe.

That's to be expected. Presidential job approval is generally based on party/political ideology. Conservatives did the same thing with Obama. Is anyone surprised?

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:19 am**

The status quo hates him, the non-Trump supporters hate him, a great many people outside of the US hate him.

Why? Because he's a bit of a dick (to the aforementioned groups). However, he's promised quote a lot to his voters, and whether we like it or not he's actually sticking to quite a few of those promises....

Don't get me wrong, I hate him (and Pence moreso), but it's not like anyone can just get rid of him. He's here to stay, and that's something the rest of the geopolitical community is going to have to accept.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:19 am**

Not that unpopular, particularly not with the people who vote; that is whites, particularly those spurred on by racial animus.

Anyway, the comparison with other foreign leaders is in bad faith. Not one of them has America's booming economy and its distance from a continent wide migrant crisis. And it completely ignores every country's own political culture.
Some countries have citizenry that are capable of critical thought, and are thus more critical of their leaders.

I can't recall a single French president who has been popular after his mandate had begun since... Mitterrand?

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:20 am**

There is nothing wrong with them, Obama and Reagan's were just as bad. I do think they are a little higher than the Polling averages show, knowing the polls. But this early into his Presidency, they don't worry me.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:27 am**

there is no true measure as to how un popular a President is because it all depends on social science. if you asked a room full of people who's family has been democrats for generations they will say just about any republican president is very unpopular same goes for if the family is republican. The only reason Trump is getting more flak then Obama or Bush is because he doesn't fit the norms that people associate with becoming President. Trump is an outsider and unknown, a rogue if you will to the establishment politicians, plus he doesn't play by the rules of the establishment. In the end its a persons personal belief as to how unpopular a president is.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:30 am**

Gig em Aggies wrote:there is no true measure as to how un popular a President is because it all depends on social science. if you asked a room full of people who's family has been democrats for generations they will say just about any republican president is very unpopular same goes for if the family is republican. The only reason Trump is getting more flak then Obama or Bush is because he doesn't fit the norms that people associate with becoming President. Trump is an outsider and unknown, a rogue if you will to the establishment politicians, plus he doesn't play by the rules of the establishment. In the end its a persons personal belief as to how unpopular a president is.

Another thing to point out is that he needs the spotlight to thrive, that's why his approval seems to be on the upswing currently with more and more Midterm Rallies and events like the Singapore Meeting where we personally saw him shaking hands and making progress.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:45 am**

Van Riebeeck Land wrote:
Gig em Aggies wrote:there is no true measure as to how un popular a President is because it all depends on social science. if you asked a room full of people who's family has been democrats for generations they will say just about any republican president is very unpopular same goes for if the family is republican. The only reason Trump is getting more flak then Obama or Bush is because he doesn't fit the norms that people associate with becoming President. Trump is an outsider and unknown, a rogue if you will to the establishment politicians, plus he doesn't play by the rules of the establishment. In the end its a persons personal belief as to how unpopular a president is.

Another thing to point out is that he needs the spotlight to thrive, that's why his approval seems to be on the upswing currently with more and more Midterm Rallies and events like the Singapore Meeting where we personally saw him shaking hands and making progress.

That's been true for every politician ever in the history of mankind. From the great orators of ancient Athens who had to physically sit on a stage talking to people to the medieval and renaissance kings with their lavish propaganda portraits it's all the same. If you want your knaves to follow you than you have to overwhelm them with propaganda of your greatness so that they forget to stop and think about what is actually happening.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:57 am**

Not that it conflicts with your point, but you're better off looking at an aggregate of polls, rather than just one. Otherwise, you're no better off than the politician that likes to cherrypick statistics to suit them. Trump himself loves the stray Rasmussen poll that paints a much rosier favorable rating than others. I would say give it a week or so, as these polls tend to lag a bit in public opinion. We might expect a dip from the unpopular separation policy.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:03 am**

Ratateague wrote:Not that it conflicts with your point, but you're better off looking at an aggregate of polls, rather than just one. Otherwise, you're no better off than the politician that likes to cherrypick statistics to suit them. Trump himself loves the stray Rasmussen poll that paints a much rosier favorable rating than others. I would say give it a week or so, as these polls tend to lag a bit in public opinion. We might expect a dip from the unpopular separation policy.

538 is good for this too. With the comparison to other presidents at the bottom.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:04 am**

Popularity shows nothing of value. People in large numbers tend to be relatively dumb.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:05 am**

I want resources please. Over all, nice thread bro with that Disney channel flow.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:06 am**

Terra Novae Libero wrote:Popularity shows nothing of value. People in large numbers tend to be relatively dumb.

Watch that edge, you may cut someone.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:11 am**

45% isn't really good, but it's not super bad either. Especially for Trump.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:13 am**

Arlenton wrote:45% isn't really good, but it's not super bad either. Especially for Trump.

He needs 46% - 47% Approval, among registered voters, to edge out a victory in 2020, If he continues #Winning then campaigns as well as he did in 2016 I'm sure he'll reach the threshold, and then some.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:14 am**

Interesting that you compare Trump with Obama with specifically mentioning this point in time and make it sound like it's always been that way.

Cuz thats alot of bullshit. Obama had 46% today and Trump sits at 42%.

Interesting even more is the fact that you conveniently ignore the world's opinion on the legendary slow wall builder.

And then there's this lovely 36%, that beats Globals rating of the federal Liberal party.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:14 am**

There's some major problems comparing Trump to anyone like Macron in Europe whose electoral system is not two party.

There's also a big difference between finding a leader "popular" in the sense that he is the ideal leader, and "popular" in the sense that given a known group of likely alternatives the leader is the least bad. Trump excels at never attempting to argue for the former, and sticking straight with being the latter to an extent we've rarely seen. Trump's support to me is support for him over media driven narratives, or over fake viral outrage, or sometimes (though not that often) over the actual political opposition.

The true test of the public's view of him as the ideal leader will be when Trump is gone and the right of center voters are choosing who to lead them against those forces next. Will his views/style be supported then'? Personally, I doubt it. There's no thirst in Trump's inner circle even now as we near the mid term to be in position to be the person that catches the Trumpist baton. Pence isn't going to continue Trumpism after Trump. None of his cabinet would either. Maybe I'm missing it, because lord knows I missed him winning the primary, but I don't see any real support for Trump, just opposition for those that hate Trump most lazily disguised as support for Trump.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:15 am**

Van Riebeeck Land wrote:
Arlenton wrote:45% isn't really good, but it's not super bad either. Especially for Trump.

He needs 46% - 47% Approval, among registered voters, to edge out a victory in 2020, If he continues #Winning then campaigns as well as he did in 2016 I'm sure he'll reach the threshold, and then some.

Lol he is at 43% rn.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:16 am**

Trump is the Blessing, Trudeau and Merkel are a bad joke where leaders are concerned.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:17 am**

The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp wrote:
Van Riebeeck Land wrote:He needs 46% - 47% Approval, among registered voters, to edge out a victory in 2020, If he continues #Winning then campaigns as well as he did in 2016 I'm sure he'll reach the threshold, and then some.

Lol he is at 43% rn.

His term isn't even half way through? What's your point? If it were 2010 on this day, Obama would never be re-elected either.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:21 am**

Van Riebeeck Land wrote:
The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp wrote:
Lol he is at 43% rn.

His term isn't even half way through? What's your point? If it were 2010 on this day, Obama would never be re-elected either.

Van Riebeeck Land wrote:
Arlenton wrote:45% isn't really good, but it's not super bad either. Especially for Trump.

He needs 46% - 47% Approval, among registered voters,

The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp wrote:Interesting that you compare Trump with Obama with specifically mentioning this point in time and make it sound like it's always been that way.

Cuz thats alot of bullshit. Obama had 46% today and Trump sits at 42%.

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:22 am**

Kormanthor wrote:Trump is the Blessing, Trudeau and Merkel are a bad joke where leaders are concerned.

What is that supposed to mean?

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:33 am**

Cryptomypt wrote:
Trumptonium1 wrote:So we often hear from liberals that Trump is Satan's incarnation and the most unpopular politician to ever walk to globe.

That's to be expected. Presidential job approval is generally based on party/political ideology. Conservatives did the same thing with Obama. Is anyone surprised?

I’m not. It’s the same shit different story

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 9:39 am**

interesting that you leave out many trumpists' archnemesis angela merkel, with her solid majority approval rating

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2018 10:19 am**

He's obviously worshipped as a god on this forum.

NationStates

How unpopular is Trump?

How unpopular is Trump?