Trump's Favoured Polling Group Delivers Devastating Blow to Former President
President Donald Trump has received a stunning rebuke from his most frequently cited polling company, Rasmussen, which has revealed that nearly half of American voters believe his predecessor Joe Biden performed better in the Oval Office.
The latest research from Rasmussen, whose findings Trump routinely promotes on his Truth Social platform when they cast him in favourable light, shows that 48 percent of respondents think Biden did a superior job as president. Only 40 percent of those surveyed backed Trump over Biden in the direct comparison.
Pollster's Blunt Assessment on Social Media
Perhaps more damaging still was the assessment from Rasmussen's head pollster Mark Mitchell, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) this week with remarkable candour: "If an election were held TODAY between Trump and Biden, Biden would win."
Mitchell added: "There are a million valid arguments you can make that explain why that's ridiculous, and I would agree with most of them. But that doesn't change the fact Biden would win."
Political strategist Chris D Jackson highlighted the significance of these findings by comparing the Rasmussen data with two other recent surveys from YouGov and Harvard CAPS/Harris. "Three polls in one week all say the same thing," Jackson noted. "A majority of Americans believe Joe Biden was a better president than Donald Trump. When even Rasmussen shows it, you know how bad things have gotten for Trump."
The 'Golden Age' Promise Fails to Materialise
While the unfavourable comparison with Biden will undoubtedly infuriate the former president, who consistently disparaged his Democratic rival throughout the 2024 campaign, the Rasmussen poll contains an arguably more significant revelation about public perception of Trump's economic promises.
A substantial 58 percent of respondents told pollsters they do not see evidence of the "golden age of America" that Trump repeatedly promised would materialise under his leadership. Only 27 percent said they believed they were living in an epoch of unparalleled wealth and prosperity, with the remaining 15 percent expressing uncertainty.
This represents a dramatic shift from when Trump took office last January, when 52 percent of people surveyed by the same polling outfit expressed confidence that brighter days were imminent. This growing disillusionment could translate into electoral consequences during November's crucial midterm elections.
Economic Optimism Clashes With Consumer Reality
Despite these troubling indicators, Trump has steadfastly refused to acknowledge any economic weakness, recently telling NBC News anchor Tom Llamas that he remains "very proud" of the economy's performance. The former president continues to insist that billions in tariff revenue are flowing into the country and that thousands of manufacturing plants are poised to reopen.
However, this optimistic rhetoric conflicts sharply with consumer sentiment on the ground. Regular polling indicates Americans believe more must be done to address the cost of living crisis, with 64 percent expressing this view in an SSRS/CNN survey published just last month.
Immigration Policy Faces Mounting Criticism
Another potential vulnerability for Trump emerges around immigration policy, once considered one of his strongest political assets. A new NBC poll this week found that 72 percent of Americans now believe Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be either reformed or abolished entirely.
This shift in public opinion follows the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, incidents that have sparked nationwide debate about immigration enforcement practices. The NBC survey revealed that two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents disapproved of ICE's conduct, compared to just 34 percent expressing support.
These findings strongly suggest that Trump's hardline approach to undocumented migrants could prove politically costly in the upcoming midterms unless significant policy adjustments are implemented. The convergence of polling data across multiple organisations indicates a challenging electoral landscape for the former president as voters prepare to deliver their verdict this November.
