President Donald Trump begins his second term in a similar place to where he was eight years ago.
Georgia voters were split on his job performance during the transition, with 46% approving and 45% disapproving, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s January poll. Eight years ago, 49% of Georgia voters approved compared to 45% who disapproved.
But if history is any indication, his poll numbers may be in for a roller coaster ride. In eight years of Atlanta Journal-Constitution polling, Trump’s job approval has ranged from a low of 37% in January 2018 to a high of 52% in January 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2024 during his recent campaign, 51% of Georgia voters said they approved of the job he did as president.
By comparison, 51% of Georgia voters approved of Joe Biden’s job performance four months after he took office. One year into his term, Biden’s job approval plummeted to 34% and never climbed above 41%. He left office with 36% of Georgia voters saying they approved of him.
AJC polls have also asked voters if they have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Trump on 15 occasions since 2016. In every poll, more voters have reported viewing him unfavorably than favorably.
But that gap has been narrowing. In July 2024, Trump was 2 percentage points underwater and in October there was a 1 percentage point difference.
Most voters polled in January said they are looking forward to his second act. A majority of 52% said they are excited or optimistic for his term while 46% said they were concerned or scared.
About the Author
