Biden's Approval Rating Over First Year Reflects Pandemic Fatigue, DC Gridlock

Biden's Approval Rating Over His First Year in Office

President Joe Biden entered the White House in January 2021 with the winds of change propelling him into office. After four tumultuous years under former President Donald Trump, Biden campaigned on a message of unity, moderation and normalcy. However, Biden's first year in office has been anything but normal, between the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, social unrest and a deeply divided political landscape.

As Biden reaches the one-year mark of his presidency this month, his approval rating provides a scorecard on how Americans believe he has performed so far. Biden's approval has fluctuated throughout the year as his administration has dealt with a multitude of crises and challenges. Here is a look at how Biden's approval has changed over his first 12 months in the White House.

Biden's Approval Rating on Inauguration Day

When Biden took office on January 20, 2021, his approval rating stood at 57% in a Gallup poll. This was slightly higher than Trump's approval of 45% when he took office four years earlier. Biden's inaugural approval was also higher than his predecessor Barack Obama, who came into office in 2009 with an approval of 67%.

Biden's relatively high starting approval reflected a few factors. First, it indicated relief among many Americans at seeing Trump leave office after a single term marked by chaos and division. Second, Biden's moderate message and promise to work across the aisle appealed to fatigued voters. Finally, voters were optimistic that Biden and his team could lead the country out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Biden's First Few Months: Vaccine Rollout and COVID Aid

In his first months in office, Biden focused on passing economic relief legislation and ramping up COVID-19 vaccinations. In March, Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan to provide stimulus checks, unemployment aid, small business support and funds for vaccinations. By May, nearly 50% of Americans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

These early victories boosted Biden's approval rating to around 54% in late spring. His pandemic response was viewed favorably by around 6 in 10 Americans. With infections falling and the economy starting to recover, Biden seemed well positioned moving into the summer.

The Summer Slide

Biden's honeymoon period came to an end over the summer as new challenges emerged. In July, COVID cases started rising again due to the Delta variant. Biden's approval dipped to around 50% as the pandemic recovery stalled.

Other issues also started weighing down Biden's popularity. His withdrawal from Afghanistan was criticized for being chaotic and poorly planned. Immigration at the southern border remained an unresolved crisis. In Congress, Biden struggled to unite Democrats behind his economic agenda and infrastructure bills.

Rising inflation also became a major concern through the summer, with the consumer price index increasing a whopping 5.4% in July compared to 2020. Overall, Biden's approval drifted down to the low 40s by late summer.

Autumn Malaise

Biden hoped to revive his agenda in the fall, but faced new obstacles. Supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and inflation persisted into autumn. Biden's vaccine mandates also prompted a backlash among some groups.

In Congress, Democrats squabbled over Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure plan and his larger Build Back Better social spending proposal. This legislative gridlock dragged on for months without resolution.

By November, Biden's approval hit a new low of just 42% in Gallup's polling. Americans were frustrated with the ongoing pandemic, economic concerns and the lack of major accomplishments from Biden and Congress. With midterm elections looming, Biden's unpopularity was becoming a liability for Democrats.

December Declines

In December, the Omicron variant unleashed a new COVID wave across the nation. While less severe than prior strains, Omicron infections still overwhelmed hospitals in many areas. Biden's approval remained stuck in the low 40s as the pandemic exhaustion continued.

Biden was finally able to pass his infrastructure bill in November, but the Build Back Better plan stalled in the evenly-divided Senate. High inflation persisted, with consumer prices rising at the fastest pace in 40 years in December. Gas, food, vehicles and housing costs increased sharply in 2021.

By the end of his first year, Biden's approval rating sagged to just 43% in Gallup's poll. Other surveys showed similar results, with Biden ending 2021 with an aggregated approval around 43% according to FiveThirtyEight's tracker.

The Road Ahead for Biden

As Biden approaches the second year of his term, he faces significant challenges to regain his political standing and pass major parts of his agenda. The pandemic remains forefront, as Biden struggles to curb the Omicron surge and convince unvaccinated Americans to get shots.

Historically high inflation is also a huge concern that is hurting Biden's approval. Prices could take months to moderate, further frustrating Americans in the meantime. Additionally, Biden needs to make progress on his stalled economic packages and other priorities, like voting rights, police reform and immigration.

On the positive side, the economy continues adding jobs at a solid clip and workers are seeing wages rise. If COVID cases fall and schools and businesses can fully reopen again soon, it would also mark a major turning point. And there is still time before the midterms for Biden to reset the narrative and deliver some big accomplishments.

Overall though, Biden's mediocre approval ratings show an electorate that remains dissatisfied with his performance. With Democrats' Congressional majorities on the line in November, Biden needs to regain momentum soon if he wants to avoid a punishing midterm backlash.

FAQs

What was Biden's approval rating when he first took office?

Biden's approval rating stood at 57% in January 2021 when he was inaugurated as president, according to Gallup polling.

What caused Biden's approval rating to decline over his first year in office?

Several factors contributed to the decline in Biden's approval, including the Delta and Omicron COVID waves, high inflation, legislative gridlock in Congress, and crises like Afghanistan and the border.

How low did Biden's approval rating get by the end of 2021?

By December 2021, Biden's approval rating had fallen to 43% in Gallup's poll. His average approval across polls ended the year around 43%.

What does Biden's approval rating mean for the 2022 midterm elections?

Biden's mediocre approval ratings suggest an unhappy electorate, which typically results in the president's party losing seats in midterms. Democrats are at high risk of losing their Congressional majorities in November 2022.