• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

3

Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

3

Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
LeadershipDonald Trump

Most People Are Optimistic about a Donald Trump Presidency

By
Michal Addady
Michal Addady
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Michal Addady
Michal Addady
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 22, 2016, 4:23 PM ET
GOP Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Holds Campaign Rally In Tampa, Florida
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 24: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hugs the American flag as he arrives for a campaign rally at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on October 24, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. There are 14 days until the the presidential election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Photo by Joe Raedle—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Most people have a positive attitude toward President-elect Donald Trump.

That’s according to a new CNN/ORC poll conducted between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20. More than 1,000 people answered whether or not they thought Trump would make a good president, and a slight majority (53%) said they think he’ll do a fairly good or very good job. When people were asked the same question before President Obama was inaugurated in 2008, that number was closer to 80%.

Trump ran his campaign on the basis that, as a businessman, he understands the economy. When survey participants were asked about whether they’re confident in his ability to deal with the economy, 65% said they either had a lot or some confidence. Again, for Obama, that statistic was at 80%. Americans were also more confident in Obama’s ability to handle foreign affairs, appoint the best people to office, and provide real leadership for the country.

Both Trump and Obama ran their campaigns as change candidates. And when asked whether they think Trump will actually change the country, 43% of respondents answered that he would do so for the better. In 2008, 63% said the same of Obama. Meanwhile, 21% think that Trump will change the country for the worse, compared to Obama’s 9%.

As for promises he made during his campaign, survey respondents were only confident that he’d be able to accomplish a few—73% said he’s at least somewhat likely to repeal and replace Obamacare; 64% said the same for renegotiating NAFTA; and 60% said he’s at least somewhat likely to create good-paying jobs in economically challenged areas. Respondents were fairly split when it came to their confidence in his ability to reduce corruption in Washington, build a wall on the border between Mexico and the U.S., and defeat ISIS.

 

Perhaps reflective of how divided Americans are, nearly the same amount of people approve of the way Trump is handling his transition as those who disapprove. Similarly, while 48% say that his behavior since Election Day has made them more confident in his ability to be president, 43% said the opposite.

One aspect of Trump’s impending presidency that has been concerning for some has been his decision to hand over the Trump Organization to his children (who are also his closest advisers) rather than placing it in a blind trust. Of this decision, 59% of respondents said he isn’t doing enough to eliminate conflicts of interest.

[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/fortune/do-you-think-donald-trump-will-make-a-good-president”]

Despite all this, Trump’s favorability is higher than it’s ever been at 47%. Still, 50% of survey respondents said the candidate was unfavorable. Meanwhile, 38% thought Vice President-elect Mike Pence was unfavorable—the highest it’s been since he joined forces with Trump.

About the Author
By Michal Addady
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

‘We’ll never do this again’: UFC CEO Dana White says White House fight night was too expensive to do it again
North AmericaDonald Trump
‘We’ll never do this again’: UFC CEO Dana White says White House fight night was too expensive to do it again
By Catherina GioinoJune 15, 2026
2 hours ago
The billionaire founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners makes plea to businesses adopting AI: ‘Don’t destroy your intern program’
AIBrainstorm Tech
The billionaire founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners makes plea to businesses adopting AI: ‘Don’t destroy your intern program’
By Jeff John RobertsJune 15, 2026
5 hours ago
Ricardo Pepi
SuccessCareers
Team USA star Ricardo Pepi grew up in a trailer in El Paso—and his parents pawned their car title to fuel his soccer dream. Now, he’s in the World Cup
By Preston ForeJune 15, 2026
5 hours ago
NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson
SuccessCareers
Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson just led New York to an NBA title—and says his basketball legend dad got him ready for the moment
By Emma BurleighJune 15, 2026
6 hours ago
vinod
C-SuiteGoogle
Silicon Valley legend Vinod Khosla tears into ‘idiotic, shortsighted, and very selfish’ Gen Z Stanford protests of Google CEO: ‘The stupidity’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 15, 2026
6 hours ago
Michelle Obama clarifies her famous ‘Go high’ motto: It’s not about anger or pain, but more like putting a safety lock on a gun
SuccessMost Powerful Women
Michelle Obama clarifies her famous ‘Go high’ motto: It’s not about anger or pain, but more like putting a safety lock on a gun
By Sydney LakeJune 15, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
Personal Finance
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
3 days ago
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Success
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
By Preston ForeJune 13, 2026
2 days ago
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
Energy
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
By Jason MaJune 14, 2026
1 day ago
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Economy
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 14, 2026
1 day ago
SpaceX surge further boosts Saudi billionaire prince’s fortune
Investing
SpaceX surge further boosts Saudi billionaire prince’s fortune
By Adveith Nair and BloombergJune 14, 2026
1 day ago
AI job disruption is here. The problem may be compounded because nearly 75% of people don't apply for unemployment benefits
AI
AI job disruption is here. The problem may be compounded because nearly 75% of people don't apply for unemployment benefits
By Jacqueline MunisJune 14, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.