As 2024 comes to a close, Americans continue to express widespread dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden, Congress, and the state of the U.S. economy, according to Gallup’s final poll of the year conducted from Dec. 2 to 18.
President Biden’s job approval rating stands at 39%, consistent with his numbers throughout the year and largely unchanged from November’s 37%. Since early 2022, his approval has remained in the 36% to 45% range, with no readings above 50% since July 2021. Biden maintains strong support among Democrats (85%), political liberals (73%), and adults with postgraduate education (55%). However, majorities of Republicans, conservatives, and white adults without a college degree disapprove of his performance.
Congress fares even worse in the eyes of Americans, with just 17% approving of its performance, continuing a trend of low ratings seen for most of 2024. Approval briefly touched 20% in September but sank as low as 12% in February. Democrats are slightly more positive, with 23% approving, compared to just 10% of Republicans.
Public satisfaction with the country’s overall direction also remains low, with only 19% expressing contentment. This marks a slight dip from the 22% to 26% satisfaction levels recorded in recent months. Following the November election, satisfaction among Democrats dropped from 47% in October to 31% in November, while Republican satisfaction temporarily rose from 5% to 16% before falling back to 9% this month.
On the economy, Americans remain largely pessimistic despite slight improvements in confidence. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index, which combines views on current conditions and economic direction, rose to -14 this month — the highest rating since August 2021. This is an improvement from the low of -58 recorded during the peak of inflation in mid-2022.
Republicans’ economic confidence has improved significantly in recent months, moving from -72 in October to -43 in November, while independents also reported improved outlooks. Confidence among Democrats, while still positive, dipped slightly to +27.
When asked about the nation’s most pressing problems, Americans remain divided. The government tops the list at 20%, followed by immigration (17%), the economy in general (15%), and inflation (11%). While concerns about immigration are significantly higher among Republicans, Democrats are more likely to cite the government as the top issue.
The report underscores a broader trend of persistent public discontent stretching back over a decade. Approval ratings for both the president and Congress have rarely surpassed 50% since 2010, and satisfaction with the country’s direction has consistently remained below 40%.
While economic confidence shows modest signs of recovery, public sentiment on leadership and governance remains largely unchanged, highlighting the deep divisions and ongoing uncertainty as the nation prepares for a new chapter under President-elect Donald Trump.
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