New Poll Ranks Melania Trump as Second Least Popular First Lady
A recent YouGov survey has revealed that Melania Trump is the second least popular first lady in recent American history, with Hillary Clinton taking the top spot as the most disliked. The poll, conducted earlier this month, asked 2,255 U.S. citizens to rate the 11 most recent first ladies on a scale from "Outstanding" to "Poor."
Detailed Ratings and Net Approval Scores
According to the results, 36% of respondents rated Melania Trump as "poor," while an additional 10% considered her "below average." On the positive side, approximately 18% viewed her as "outstanding," and 12% said she was "above average." This combination gave her a net approval rating of -16.
Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump, fared slightly worse. The poll found that 33% rated her as "poor," with another 11% saying she was "below average," resulting in a net rating of -17.
Most Popular First Ladies and Comparisons to Presidents
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 received favorable feedback, with 33% rating her "outstanding" and 12% "above average," leading to a +21 net approval rating, though 22% still viewed her as "poor."
The poll highlighted that, on average, first ladies received higher net ratings than their husbands. Hillary Clinton was the only exception, with a significantly lower net rating compared to her husband, who had a -3 rating. Other notable comparisons included:
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy: +56 vs. +61
- Nancy and Ronald Reagan: +25 vs. +22
- Michelle and Barack Obama: +21 vs. +15
- Melania and Donald Trump: -16 vs. -20
Presidential Rankings and Political Polarization
The survey also assessed opinions on presidents, with Donald Trump ranking the worst out of 20 presidents. A striking 48% of respondents rated him as "poor," and 6% said he was "below average." Only about 19% viewed him as "outstanding." Following Trump, his predecessor Joe Biden was the least popular ex-president, with 38% rating him "poor" and 12% "below average," while just 7% considered him "outstanding."
The poll noted that opinions of first ladies are often politically polarized in a manner similar to their husbands, reflecting broader partisan divides in public perception.
Context and Documentary Impact
These findings emerge amid the release of Melania Trump's controversial documentary, Melania, which reportedly earned $7 million in its opening weekend but saw ticket sales drop to $2.4 million in the second week. Amazon invested $40 million to acquire the rights to the documentary and an additional $35 million for promotion, highlighting the ongoing public interest and scrutiny surrounding the former first lady.
Overall, the YouGov poll provides a comprehensive glimpse into American attitudes toward recent first ladies and presidents, underscoring the enduring influence of political affiliations on public opinion.
