American voters have ranked President Joe Biden as the “worst president” in modern U.S. history, placing him below controversial predecessors such as Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon, according to a recent survey conducted by The Daily Mail.
The poll, which asked registered voters to evaluate the past nine U.S. presidents, revealed that 44% of respondents ranked Biden as one of the two worst presidents.
In contrast, only 14% placed him among the top two. This resulted in a net score of negative 30 for Biden, surpassing Richard Nixon’s negative 25 and Donald Trump’s negative 15 as the lowest in the survey.
James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners, the firm behind the poll, characterized the results as “diabolical” for the current president.
“There’s always a recency bias, and as Joe Biden is the incumbent, he starts off at a disadvantage there,” Johnson explained. “But regardless of that, these numbers are worse than I expected.”
Johnson pointed to several issues contributing to Biden’s poor showing in the poll, including concerns about his age, dissatisfaction with his administration’s handling of critical issues, and broader voter discontent.
Specifically, the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ongoing southern border crisis, and economic challenges were cited as key points of criticism.
“These results reflect a president who, in the eyes of many voters, has been fundamentally ineffective,” Johnson noted. “He went from being the man who beat Trump to the man who let him back in.”
The survey also highlighted voter disapproval of Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. More than half of respondents expressed disapproval of the pardon, which appears to have further eroded the president’s standing.
Biden’s approval rating dropped to 37% in the survey, marking a historic low for his presidency. This figure underscores the growing dissatisfaction among voters as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
In stark contrast, former President Ronald Reagan emerged as the most highly regarded leader in modern history, according to the poll. Reagan was followed by Democrats Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, both of whom enjoyed relatively high approval ratings during and after their presidencies.
The poll’s findings come at a precarious moment for Biden, whose administration faces mounting challenges both domestically and internationally.
With the 2024 presidential election looming, the data raises questions about his ability to secure re-election amid widespread voter discontent.
The survey underscores the political headwinds Biden must navigate, as public perception of his presidency continues to decline. Johnson summarized the situation bluntly: “These numbers are not just a reflection of Biden’s leadership but a broader frustration among voters with the state of the country.”
As the race for the White House intensifies, Biden will need to address these concerns head-on to regain the trust of the American electorate and reshape his legacy in the eyes of history.