Melania Trump's Approval Rating Hits Historic Low in New Poll
A new CNN poll has revealed that Melania Trump is the least popular First Lady in American history, with her approval ratings described as historically awful by senior data analysts. The poll results, released prior to her White House statement on Thursday, show a dramatic decline in public perception.
Polling Data Shows Steep Decline
According to analysis by CNN, the current First Lady holds an approval rating of -12, a significant drop from a positive rating of plus three recorded in January 2025. This negative score places her at the bottom of all First Ladies measured at this point in a presidency.
CNN Senior data analyst Harry Enten commented on the findings before Melania Trump's Thursday address, stating: This is the worst at this point in a presidency as well. Melania Trump is breaking records in the way that you don't want to break records. Historically awful... The American people really don't care for her.
Comparison to Previous First Ladies
Enten provided context by comparing Melania Trump to other modern First Ladies, all of whom achieved net positive scores in similar polling:
- Michelle Obama maintained strong approval throughout her tenure
- Jill Biden has consistently positive ratings
- Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush both received favorable scores
- Nancy Reagan achieved the highest score with a 50 percent positive approval rating
Controversial Documentary Impact
The analyst suggested that Melania Trump's controversial documentary, Melania: Twenty Days To History, released on Amazon in January, may have directly contributed to her declining popularity. The film was almost universally panned by critics and failed commercially.
I think a lot of people saw it as political even if she didn't want it to be, Enten explained. 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.
Historical Controversies Resurface
Melania Trump has long faced public scrutiny and has often shunned the limelight in favor of her husband, President Donald Trump. One of her most memorable controversies occurred in 2018 during Trump's first term, when she wore a jacket bearing the text I Really Don't Care. Do U? while visiting child detention centers in McAllen, Texas.
The $39 Zara jacket sparked widespread debate and multiple think pieces about the First Lady's intentions and messaging. This incident, combined with her generally reserved public persona, has contributed to the complex public perception captured in the latest polling.
Poll Timing and Context
It's important to note that the poll results were released before Melania Trump delivered her remarkable White House address on Thursday, in which she denied any connections to disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The polling numbers are not related to this statement or the Epstein allegations.
The combination of commercial failure of her documentary, historical controversies, and consistently low public engagement has created what analysts describe as a perfect storm of unpopularity for the current First Lady.
