Americans View Obama Far More Positively Than Trump or Biden — and the Gap Is Staggering

A new CNN poll reveals that Barack Obama is by far the most popular living president in America, with a favorability rating that nearly doubles that of both his successors.

WASHINGTON – As Barack Obama prepares to open his presidential center in Chicago, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that the former president is viewed positively by 57% of Americans — far surpassing President Donald Trump at 34% and former President Joe Biden at just 30% .

The gap is not merely a partisan artifact. Among political independents, Obama’s favorability stands at 56%, more than twice that of Trump (25%) and Biden (20%) .

The poll, conducted May 7-31 among 2,480 adults nationwide, carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points .

A Cross-Party Appeal Neither Successor Can Match

Obama’s standing extends beyond his own party in ways neither Trump nor Biden can replicate. While 96% of Democrats view him positively, roughly one in five Republicans also offers a favorable opinion . That cross-party appeal is significantly higher than what Americans currently extend to either of his successors .

By contrast, Trump and Biden are both deeply polarizing figures. Trump’s favorability is driven almost entirely by Republican support, while Biden — who entered office with a 59% favorable rating — now sits at a level lower than at any point during his presidency . The share of Americans with no opinion of Biden has grown, suggesting a fading public presence rather than active disapproval.

The Trajectory of Presidential Legacies

Obama’s sustained popularity breaks a pattern of retrospective reassessment. Presidents often see their standings shift — sometimes dramatically — in the years after leaving office. George W. Bush, who left the White House with deeply negative ratings, saw his image improve markedly over the following decade. Trump, who ended his first term at 33% in CNN’s polling, climbed to 46% before his second inauguration — then promptly began another decline .

Obama, however, has maintained broad popularity since leaving office in 2017. His rating has held steady in the high 50s to low 60s, even as the political landscape around him has transformed .

The poll also underscores a generational shift in historical memory. More than four in ten adults under 30 say they have no opinion of either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton — presidents who once dominated American political consciousness . For younger Americans, Obama is the first president they remember, and his image has calcified as a positive reference point.

What the Numbers Mean

When Americans were asked which president they admire most, 30% named Obama — placing him at the top of the list, ahead of all living presidents and recent historical figures .

The CNN poll arrives at a moment of political significance: the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 19, 2026 . The center’s debut has drawn Democratic leaders from across the country, with California Governor Gavin Newsom reportedly saying he “literally started crying” during his tour .

For Obama, the numbers represent something rare in modern politics: a legacy that has not been tarnished by time or overtaken by the era that followed. For Trump and Biden, the poll offers a stark reminder that both remain defined by the divisions of their respective moments — while the man who came before them has, for now, transcended them both.