Trump’s approval rating remains higher than Obama’s and Bush’s were at this point in their second terms

As President Trump’s first year of his second, non consecutive term draws to a close, no one can say that it has been uneventful. From a horrific assassination, to an attempt to cut government waste, divisions within the conservative movement, to clashes over deportations and fears about the economy and war, Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House has been a roller coaster.

But even with all the triumphs, division and controversy, and with people antsy for better economic news, Mr Trump’s approval rating today on January 12th, is higher, at 43.8%, than former Presidents Bush and Obama’s were at this time in their second terms.

At this time in Barack Obama’s term, January 12, 2014, he was at 42.1% approval, while at this time in George W Bush’s second term, January 12, 2006, he was at 42.7% approval.

As has been noted before when comparing these 3 Presidents, the difference between them is not large at all. In fact, it is within the margin of error. But the larger point is that no one has been attacked and maligned, and no one has been said to have been on his political death bed as much as Donald Trump.

George W Bush was a Republican President, so he faced pretty overwhelming negative coverage, but nothing to the extent that Donald Trump has. And Barack Obama of course received more positive coverage than any President since at least John F Kennedy.

It might lead one to wonder what the 3 men’s respective approval rating if they all received the same amount of positive and negative coverage. And this is particularly damning for the people who claim that Trump is a spent political force and will be routed from now on.

The conservative movement has problems, including a broadly unsatisfied public regarding the economy, rifts within the right wing, and trouble getting Trump voters to turn out in non Presidential races.

But even if one acknowledges the challenges that Trump and the political right will face in the coming years, one also has to acknowledge that Mr Trump is in a pretty healthy political position, much healthier than is painted by the legacy media and the left wing.