Trump has the lowest first 10-day approval since approval ratings began

By Amy Chen

Donald Trump’s approval at the end of his first 10 days is the lowest since the approval ratings began six decades ago, according to the most recent GALLUP poll.

At 43%, President Trump is 10 percentage points behind Ronald Raegan, who was at 53% at the same stage in 1981, and 12 percentage points behind Bill Clinton’s rating of 55%.

In comparison, President Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama enjoyed 64% at the beginning of February 2009.

The all time record for most popular President at the 10-day mark was held by John F Kennedy, at 72% in 1961.

Trump also earns the dubious distinction of becoming the first President to be more disliked than liked so early in his term, with 52% disapproving the new occupant of the White House.

Trump enjoys a solid 89% support among Republicans, but only 42% among independents and an even more dismal 13% among Democrats.

Trump’s approval numbers have not changed in a statistically significant manner since his inauguration, suggesting that his flurry of executive orders in the first week, including the controversial ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries coming to the US, has had little effect on improving him appeal.

The GALLUP poll results are based on telephone interviews with approximately 1,500 national adults and carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.