New Poll Ranks First Ladies: Hillary Clinton Most Disliked, Melania Trump Second
A recent YouGov poll has unveiled surprising insights into public perceptions of America's first ladies, placing Hillary Clinton at the bottom of the popularity rankings, with Melania Trump following closely as the second least popular. The survey, conducted earlier this month, asked 2,255 U.S. citizens to evaluate the 11 most recent first ladies on a scale from "Outstanding" to "Poor."
Detailed Ratings and Net Approval Scores
According to the poll results, 33 percent of respondents rated Hillary Clinton as "poor," with an additional 11 percent labeling her "below average." This gave her a net approval rating of -17, making her the most disliked first lady in the survey. Melania Trump received a net rating of -16, with 36 percent saying she was "poor" and 10 percent rating her "below average." Interestingly, about 18 percent viewed Melania as "outstanding," and 12 percent considered her "above average."
In contrast, the most popular first ladies were Jackie Kennedy, Rosalynn Carter, and Nancy Reagan, who achieved net ratings of +56, +32, and +25, respectively. Michelle Obama also emerged as a favorite, with 33 percent rating her "outstanding" and 12 percent "above average," resulting in a +21 net approval rating, though 22 percent still viewed her as "poor."
Presidential Comparisons and Political Polarization
The poll highlighted that, on average, first ladies received higher net ratings than their presidential husbands. Hillary Clinton was the sole exception, with a significantly lower rating than her husband, who had a net rating of -3. Other couples showed similar ratings, such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy (+56 vs. +61), Nancy and Ronald Reagan (+25 vs. +22), and Michelle and Barack Obama (+21 vs. +15). Melania and Donald Trump also shared negative ratings of -16 and -20, respectively.
The survey noted that opinions of first ladies are politically polarized in a manner similar to views of their husbands, reflecting broader partisan divides.
Donald Trump Ranks as Worst President in Poll
In a related finding, Donald Trump was ranked the worst out of 20 presidents evaluated by YouGov. A staggering 48 percent of respondents rated him as "poor," with another 6 percent saying "below average." Only about 19 percent viewed him as "outstanding." Following Trump, his predecessor Joe Biden was the least popular ex-president, with 38 percent rating him "poor" and 12 percent "below average," while just 7 percent considered him "outstanding."
Context and Broader Implications
This poll offers a snapshot of public sentiment toward Melania Trump amid the release of her controversial documentary, "Melania." The film reportedly earned $7 million in its opening weekend but saw ticket sales plummet to $2.4 million in its second week. Amazon invested heavily in the project, spending $40 million to acquire the rights and an additional $35 million on promotion.
The results underscore the enduring impact of political figures on public opinion, with first ladies often mirroring the approval trends of their spouses. As political landscapes evolve, such polls provide valuable insights into voter attitudes and the legacy of prominent families in American history.
