Fact check: How does Donald Trump's approval rating compare to other US presidents?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, Donald Trump's approval ratings consistently rank among the lowest compared to other US presidents. Current polling data shows Trump's approval rating at 37% according to Gallup, marking the lowest point of his second term ^[1]. Other sources report slightly higher but still concerning numbers, with YouGov/Economist showing 40% approval versus 56% disapproval ^[2], while various polls average his approval at 45.8% with 50.9% disapproval ^[3].

Historical comparisons reveal Trump's consistently poor performance relative to other presidents. After his first 100 days in office, Trump had a 41% approval rating, which was the lowest among all listed presidents at that same milestone ^[4]. His net approval rating currently stands at -15, indicating significantly more Americans disapprove than approve of his performance ^{[1] [5]}.

The trend shows deteriorating support over time, with The Economist reporting that Trump's net approval rating has fallen steadily since his inauguration ^[5]. Notably, 47% of Americans strongly disapprove of Trump's second term compared to only 23% who strongly approve ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses lack several crucial pieces of context that would provide a more comprehensive comparison:

• No specific numerical comparisons with other presidents' approval ratings during similar periods of their presidencies
• Missing historical context about typical approval rating patterns for second-term presidents
• Absence of partisan breakdown showing how Republicans, Democrats, and Independents view Trump compared to how they viewed previous presidents
• No discussion of external factors that might influence approval ratings, such as economic conditions, international crises, or major policy initiatives
• Limited timeframe coverage - the analyses don't show Trump's approval ratings throughout his entire presidency for proper historical comparison

Alternative viewpoints that could benefit from these narratives include:

• Political opponents and media organizations who benefit from emphasizing low approval ratings to undermine Trump's political influence
• Polling organizations that gain attention and credibility by providing dramatic or newsworthy polling data
• Opposition political parties who use these numbers to fundraise and mobilize their base

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual in nature, simply asking for a comparison without making claims. However, potential bias could emerge in how the question is interpreted or answered:

• The question doesn't specify which aspects of approval ratings to compare (overall averages, specific time periods, or trend patterns)
• No timeframe is specified, which could lead to cherry-picking data from Trump's lowest or highest approval periods
• The question doesn't account for different polling methodologies or the evolution of polling techniques over different presidential eras

The analyses themselves show potential bias through:

• Selective reporting of Trump's lowest approval numbers without providing broader historical context ^[1]
• Emphasis on negative metrics like "strongly disapprove" percentages without equivalent emphasis on positive metrics ^[2]
• Limited source diversity, with heavy reliance on specific polling organizations that may have methodological biases

The most significant limitation is that none of the sources provide comprehensive side-by-side comparisons with specific approval rating numbers for other presidents, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about Trump's relative standing in presidential history.