Survey: 54% of Voters Believe Trump Is Doing Better Than Biden

A new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows that more Americans believe President Donald Trump is performing better in office than former President Joe Biden.

The survey, conducted August 20–21 among 2,025 registered voters, found that 54% say Trump is doing a better job than Biden, while 46% believe he is doing worse. The poll carries a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points.

The results come seven months into Trump’s second term, a period defined by aggressive policy moves, including tougher immigration enforcement, fresh tariffs on foreign nations, and the passage of a sweeping spending package dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Biden’s Ratings Lag Behind Trump’s

The poll also highlighted a gap in favorability. Biden registered a -14 net unfavorable rating, compared to Trump’s -2. Trump’s overall approval rating stood at 47%, with 49% disapproving — numbers that have remained largely stable since June. Among Republicans, support for Trump is strong, with 83% backing his presidency.

“Trump has really solidified his political base and is maintaining every point of it,” said Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll. “He is working on a lot of initiatives that will take time to pan out – but unless there is peace in one of these foreign conflicts or a clear consensus about the economy, the country will likely remain in a partisan rut.”

Issue-by-Issue Approval

Trump scored highest among voters on:

• Fighting crime in U.S. cities (51%)
• Immigration policy (50%)
• Returning America to its values (50%)

He fared worst on:

• Handling inflation (41%)
• Tariffs and trade policy (41%)

Concerns Over Economy and Foreign Policy

Despite solid support, economic concerns persist. 55% of voters believe Trump’s policies will increase inflation, including 83% of Democrats, 33% of Republicans, and 51% of independents. The same share, 55%, also said his tariffs are hurting the U.S. economy.

On foreign affairs, skepticism remains high:

• 59% say Trump will not resolve the war in Ukraine
• 64% say he won’t be able to end the Israel–Hamas conflict

Both figures reflect a net negative margin of about 5 points.