Lincoln Tops Presidential Rankings, Trump Receives Most 'Poor' Marks: Poll

The YouGov survey finds stark partisan divides in how recent presidents are viewed.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A new YouGov poll shows that Americans overwhelmingly view former President Abraham Lincoln as an 'outstanding' leader, while President Trump ranks near the bottom. The survey found that 74% of U.S. voters collectively rank Lincoln as 'outstanding' or 'above average,' while less than 4 in 10 respondents, 35%, ranked Trump as 'outstanding' or 'above average'. Instead, 54% viewed Trump's presidency as 'poor' or 'below average'.

Why it matters

The poll results highlight the stark partisan divides in how recent presidents are viewed, with Republicans and Democrats holding more positive views of leaders from their own party. However, there is less politicization for presidents who served before many voters were born, such as Lincoln, Washington, and Kennedy.

The details

The YouGov survey, released on February 14, 2026, found that Lincoln was followed by former Presidents John F. Kennedy and George Washington in the rankings, with about 66% ranking Kennedy as 'outstanding' or 'above average' and 65% saying the same of Washington. In contrast, less than 4 in 10 respondents, 35%, ranked Trump as 'outstanding' or 'above average', while 54% viewed his presidency as 'poor' or 'below average'. Trump, however, bested former Presidents Joe Biden and Richard Nixon, who fell at the bottom of the rankings.

  • The YouGov poll was conducted in two separate surveys from February 2-5, 2026.

The players

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president of the United States, known affectionately as 'Honest Abe', who is overwhelmingly viewed by Americans as an 'outstanding' leader.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who ranks near the bottom of the presidential rankings, with 54% of respondents viewing his presidency as 'poor' or 'below average'.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th president of the United States, who is ranked as 'outstanding' or 'above average' by 66% of respondents.

George Washington

The first president of the United States, who is ranked as 'outstanding' or 'above average' by 65% of respondents.

Joe Biden

The former president of the United States, who is ranked as 'outstanding' or 'above average' by 23% of respondents, and 'poor' or 'below average' by 50% of respondents.

Richard Nixon

The 37th president of the United States, who is ranked as 'outstanding' or 'above average' by just 12% of respondents, and 'poor' or 'below average' by 48% of respondents.

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The takeaway

The poll results highlight the deep partisan divides in how Americans view recent presidents, with Republicans and Democrats holding more positive views of leaders from their own party. However, there is less politicization for presidents who served before many voters were born, suggesting that historical perspective can provide a more balanced assessment of a president's legacy.