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A new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS reveals that most Americans have a cautiously optimistic outlook on President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to return to the White House next month. According to the survey, 54% believe Trump will do a good job as president, and 55% approve of how he is handling the transition so far.
Trump’s victory last month came amid widespread dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s leadership and negative views on the state of the country and the economy. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (68%) believe Trump will bring change to the country, though only 48% think it will be a positive change, highlighting a divided perspective on his return.
The findings suggest Trump enjoys a brief honeymoon period with the public, a phase often seen after presidential elections. However, his approval numbers remain below those of other recent incoming presidents, even as they outperform his transition approval ratings from 2016.
The country’s mood, while still largely pessimistic, has slightly improved post-election. While 61% say things in the U.S. are going badly, only 15% describe them as very badly, the lowest figure since May 2018. Meanwhile, 38% feel things are going well, the highest since December 2021. This shift is driven largely by partisan realignments, typical after elections where political power changes hands.
Republicans have shown a marked improvement in their outlook, with 30% now saying things are going well—up from 14% earlier this year and the most optimistic they’ve been since Trump’s previous term. Independents also feel more positive, with 43% saying the country is doing well, the highest share since January 2020, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In contrast, Democrats have grown increasingly disillusioned following their party’s loss of the White House and Senate. Only 40% now say things are going well, down from 62% earlier in the year and the lowest level since summer 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, significantly shifting federal abortion protections.
Expectations for Trump’s presidency align closely with his 2016 transition, with 53% then expecting him to do a good job compared to 54% now. However, optimism that he will bring positive change has increased slightly to 48%, up from 43% eight years ago. Still, the shares expecting negative change (20%) or no change at all (31%) remain virtually unchanged, indicating persistent skepticism as Trump prepares to take office again.
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