December 11, 2024
The Trump Transition, December 2024
Plurality Approves of Trump Transition... Majority Disapproves of Biden's Pardon of His Son
As President-elect Donald Trump plans his return to the Oval Office, nearly half of Americans approve of the transition. However, President Joe Biden faces disapproval for the pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. As the nation enters a new chapter, nearly two in three think the country is moving in the wrong direction.
- 47% of Americans approve of how President-elect Trump is doing on his transition into office. 39% disapprove, and 14% are unsure.
- While Republicans (86%) overwhelmingly approve of how Trump is handling the transition, 72% of Democrats and a plurality of independents (43%) disapprove. Among independents, 38% approve, and 18% are unsure.
- 59% of Americans disapprove of President Biden's pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden. 40% approve.
- 73% of Democrats approve of the pardon while 84% of Republicans and 65% of independents disapprove.
- 40% of Americans approve of how President Biden is performing in office, and 51% disapprove. Americans are nearly twice as likely to strongly disapprove (37%) of how Biden is doing than to strongly approve (19%).
- 64% of Americans think the country is moving in the wrong direction, and 35%, up from 29% in November of 2022, say it is heading in the right direction.
"Although more people support Trump’s transition than oppose it, more independents are taking a wait and see position than more partisan voters," says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. "A note of caution for President-elect Trump is that fewer voters approve of the transition than gave a thumbs up to either Biden or Obama at this point."
This survey of U.S. adults was conducted December 3rd through December 5th, 2024 by the Marist Poll. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n=3,131) are statistically significant within ±2.1 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=2,764) are statistically significant within ±2.2 percentage points.