Politics isn't a popularity contest. Well, okay, it literally is, but the "score" doesn't always tell the story you think it does. When you look at the lowest approval rating of president history, you aren't just looking at failure. You are looking at moments where the country was on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Numbers don't lie, but they certainly don't explain much on their own. Why did Harry Truman, a guy now considered a "near-great" leader by most historians, leave office with people practically throwing stones at him? Why did George W. Bush see his numbers fall off a cliff after reaching the literal highest peak in polling history? Honestly, the bottom of the barrel is where things get interesting.
The Hall of Infamy: Who Actually Hit the Bottom?
If you ask the average person who had the worst numbers, they’ll probably guess based on whoever they didn't vote for last year. But if we stick to the gold standard—Gallup's historical tracking—the "winner" for the all-time basement is Harry Truman.
In February 1952, Truman bottomed out at a staggering 22%.
Think about that for a second. Only one in five people thought he was doing a good job. He was dealing with a mess: the Korean War was dragging on with no end in sight, inflation was eating people's paychecks, and his administration was getting hammered by corruption scandals. At the time, he was basically radioactive.
But he isn't alone in the "Twenties Club." George W. Bush managed to hit 25% three different times in late 2008. Richard Nixon, right as the Watergate walls were closing in, sank to 24% just before he resigned.
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A Quick Breakdown of the Lows
- Harry Truman (1952): 22% (Korean War, inflation, scandals)
- Richard Nixon (1974): 24% (Watergate, impending resignation)
- George W. Bush (2008): 25% (Financial crisis, Iraq War fatigue)
- Jimmy Carter (1979): 28% (Energy crisis, stagflation, that infamous "Malaise" speech)
- Donald Trump (2021/2025): 34% in his first term (post-Jan 6th); dropped to 36% in December 2025 during his second term amid economic friction and unity concerns.
- Joe Biden (2024): 36% (Inflation, Afghanistan withdrawal ghost, immigration debates)
Why the Numbers Tank: The Three Horsemen of Bad Polls
You’ve probably noticed a pattern. Presidents don't usually hit these lows because of one bad tweet or a gaffe. It takes a perfect storm. Usually, it’s a mix of a "forever war," a collapsing economy, and a massive breach of trust.
Economy is the big one. Always. If people can't buy eggs, they blame the guy in the Oval Office. It doesn't matter if the President doesn't have a "lower gas prices" button on his desk. The public views the President as the CEO of the country. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, George W. Bush’s numbers didn’t just dip; they vaporized.
Then there’s the war fatigue. Truman had Korea. LBJ had Vietnam. Bush had Iraq. These conflicts start with a "rally 'round the flag" effect, but as the body bags come home and the "mission accomplished" vibes fade, the approval rating follows suit. It's a slow-motion car crash for any administration.
Trust is the third pillar. This is the Nixon territory. Once the public decides a leader is fundamentally dishonest or "out for themselves," the floor drops out. Interestingly, once you hit that 25% mark, you've basically lost everyone except the "ride or die" partisans.
The "Hated Now, Loved Later" Paradox
Here is the weird part. Being unpopular doesn't mean you were a bad president. It just means you were unpopular at that moment.
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Take Harry Truman. People hated him in '52. Today? Historians usually rank him in the top ten. Why? Because the very things that made him unpopular—like firing General Douglas MacArthur or pushing for civil rights in the military—turned out to be the right calls for the long-term health of the country.
Sometimes, doing the right thing is political suicide.
Jimmy Carter is another one. His 28% rating in 1979 was brutal. People felt he was weak and that the country was in a "malaise." But decades later, his focus on human rights and his post-presidency work have completely rehabilitated his image. He's arguably the most beloved "ex-president" we've ever had.
Modern Polarization: The New "Floor"
If you've looked at the lowest approval rating of president data lately, you might notice that the swings aren't as wild as they used to be. This is because of the "Polarization Floor."
In the 1950s, a president could have 80% approval or 20% approval. People were more willing to change their minds based on performance. Today? We are so divided that about 35-40% of the country will support "their guy" no matter what, and 35-40% will hate the "other guy" no matter what.
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This means reaching a 22% approval rating today is actually harder than it was in Truman’s time. You’d have to do something so catastrophic that even your own base turns on you. We saw a glimpse of this with Donald Trump in early 2021 and again in late 2025, where numbers slipped as independents and some moderate supporters drifted away, but the hardcore base kept the floor from totally collapsing.
How to Read the Polls Without Losing Your Mind
If you're tracking these numbers, keep a few things in mind:
- The Margin of Error: Most polls have a 3-4% wiggle room. A 36% might actually be a 40%, or a 32%.
- The "Disapproval" vs. "Strong Disapproval": It's one thing if someone thinks you're "meh." It's another if they want you gone yesterday. High "strong disapproval" is the real killer for re-election.
- The Trendline Matters More Than the Number: A president at 38% who is moving up is in a much better spot than a president at 42% who is plummeting.
Actionable Insights for the Politically Curious
- Don't bet on the "death" of a presidency based on one poll. History shows that numbers can bounce back. Bill Clinton was at 37% in his first year and left office at 66%.
- Look at the "No Opinion" group. If a president has a low approval rating but a high "no opinion" count, they have a chance to win people back. If everyone has already made up their mind, they're in trouble.
- Watch the "Base" support. As long as a president keeps 80-90% of their own party, they remain powerful in Washington. When that base support drops into the 60s, that's when you see primary challenges and talk of resignation.
The lowest approval rating of president isn't just a number. It's a snapshot of a nation in pain, or a leader taking a stand that the public isn't ready for. Whether it's the 22% of Truman or the 25% of Bush, these lows remind us that the American public is a tough boss—and they aren't afraid to give a failing grade when they feel the country is off track.
To keep track of how these numbers shift in real-time, you can follow the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center which updates regularly with new data. Compare the "net approval" (approval minus disapproval) to get the clearest picture of where a leader stands with the broader electorate.