Melania Trump Records Historic Low Approval Rating Among First Ladies
A recent CNN poll has delivered a stark assessment of Melania Trump's public standing, revealing she holds the lowest recorded approval rating of any American First Lady over the past four decades. The survey, conducted by CNN/SSRS from March 26 to 30, produced what data analyst Harry Enten described as "absolutely awful" numbers during a broadcast on Thursday.
"Melania Trump is breaking records in the way that you don't want to break records—historically awful," Enten stated bluntly. "The American people really don't care for her." This dismal polling data emerged just before the First Lady delivered a White House address, where she explicitly denied any association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal activities.
A Steep and Sustained Decline in Popularity
Enten highlighted a dramatic collapse in Melania Trump's popularity between her husband's first and second presidential terms. According to data analyzed by The Daily Beast, the First Lady enjoyed a relatively strong +30 approval rating in May 2018. However, this figure plummeted to a mere +3 by January 2025 and has since fallen further into negative territory, reaching -12 in the March 2026 survey.
This places her far behind her modern predecessors at a comparable stage in their husbands' second terms. Historical comparisons show Nancy Reagan with a +50 approval rating, Laura Bush at +46, Michelle Obama at +42, and Hillary Clinton at +25. Even Jill Biden, who served only one term as First Lady, maintained a positive approval rating, outperforming Melania Trump.
"If we look at this historically, the worst ever, the worst ever at this point in term number two," Enten emphasized, adding that her current standing is also the worst recorded at this specific point in any presidency.
Addressing Epstein Allegations Head-On
The poll's publication coincided with Melania Trump's public statement directly confronting long-standing rumors linking her to Jeffrey Epstein. "I've never been friends with Epstein," she declared during her Thursday afternoon address at the White House. "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998."
The First Lady stated she had been subjected to "fake images and statements" on social media for years and urged the public to exercise caution. "These images and stories are completely false. I'm not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes," she asserted, clarifying she is "not Epstein's victim."
She also addressed a published email sent to Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, signed "Love, Melania," explaining it was merely a polite response and not indicative of a close relationship. Melania Trump said she first met Epstein in 2000 and was unaware of any misconduct, noting he was not formally accused until 2005.
Context and Contributing Factors
The announcement surprised many, as there had been no recent major revelations connecting her to the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. He had been convicted over a decade earlier for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
President Donald Trump, when asked about his wife's remarks, told MS NOW he didn't "know anything about" her shocking speech. The couple's approval ratings have both faced challenges recently. The same CNN poll indicated President Trump's rating for his handling of the economy had hit an all-time low of 31 percent in March 2026, with his overall approval falling from 39 percent to 35 percent over the past year.
Throughout the presidency, Melania Trump has often made headlines for controversial choices while generally avoiding the spotlight. The January release of her documentary, Melania: 20 Days to History, drew significant public scrutiny. Enten suggested this may have impacted her popularity, noting, "I think a lot of people saw it as political even if she didn’t want it to be, and you could just see it here. This is real-world data. This is not just the polling data that shows the historic lack of appeal that she has for a first lady."
The Daily Mail reported contacting the White House for comment on these findings, though no official statement was provided at the time of publication.
