Source: Jinshi Data
The Hill reported that a new Gallup survey found that among 13 U.S. leaders, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is the most popular. This finding places him ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose approval rating remains near a historic low.
The poll, released this Monday, showed that over four in ten respondents approved of Powell's job performance. This includes 46% of Democrats, 34% of Republicans, and 49% of independents.
Gallup found that Powell's job approval rating stands at 44%, the highest figure among those tested in the poll. Trump's approval rating is 36%, which Gallup noted is a new low for his second term, only slightly above his all-time low of 34% set in 2021.
The survey revealed that Trump's approval rating continues to show severe partisan polarization. Approximately 89% of Republicans approve of his performance, while independents' support is much lower, and Democrats' approval is nearly zero. Powell's approval rating also reflects partisan divisions. Although his 44% approval does not represent majority support, it is still the highest net approval rating among all candidates in this poll.
Among a group including Trump, Vice President Vance, five other cabinet officials, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and congressional leaders from both parties, only Secretary of State Marco Rubio achieved an approval rating of at least 40%.
The survey found that the official with the lowest rating—Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)—had an approval rating of 28%.
This result is notable given Trump's repeated public criticisms of Powell throughout 2025. Trump has frequently criticized Powell, accusing him of not supporting earlier or larger interest rate cuts.
However, in the past three meetings (including one earlier this month), the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to cut interest rates by 25 basis points each time. The federal funds rate range is now 3.5% to 3.75%.
Trump is also preparing to nominate Powell's successor, as Powell's second term as Fed chair will end in May next year. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Fed board member Kevin Warsh, and current board member Christopher Waller are all seen as potential successors to Powell.
This Gallup survey was conducted from December 1 to 15, interviewing 1,016 U.S. adults by telephone. The margin of error is 4 percentage points. It measured the job approval ratings of 13 major political and institutional figures.
Gallup noted that none of the leaders in this survey came close to a 50% approval rating, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction with national leadership. The poll measured job approval, not personal favorability or voting intention, and also showed that the approval ratings of almost all figures evaluated were deeply affected by partisan divisions.
