President Trump is more popular than former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a new NBC News survey released Monday.
The poll found 41 percent of respondents expressed favorable views of the president. In comparison, 34 percent of those polled responded with favorable views toward Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump. Newsom, who has been mentioned as a potential 2028 Democratic candidate, was also included in the comparison.
The survey results come amid what the pollsters described as a dip in Trump's job approval ratings, though the president maintains a net positive favorability rating when measured against his Democratic rivals.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive analysts and Democrats have pointed to the job approval dip as evidence that Trump's support may be softening. Some progressive commentators noted that the 41 percent favorable rating remains below majority support and argued that Trump's numbers could decline further as voters assess his administration's policy outcomes. Democratic strategists have suggested that Harris's 34 percent favorable rating understates her potential support, noting that polling in early electoral cycles often underestimates Democratic enthusiasm.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump supporters and Republican strategists have emphasized that the president maintains higher favorability than any potential Democratic challenger. Conservative commentators have noted that Trump's polling position puts him in a strong position for a potential 2028 presidential bid. Republican allies have argued that the 41 percent favorable rating is particularly notable given the historically hostile coverage Trump receives from much of mainstream media.
What the Numbers Show
The NBC News survey found Trump at 41 percent favorable versus Harris at 34 percent, a seven-point advantage for the president. The margin between Trump and Harris is narrower than Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election, which he won by approximately 3 percentage points in the popular vote. The poll did not provide specific job approval numbers beyond noting a dip, nor did it detail the margin of error or sample size.
The Bottom Line
The NBC News survey provides a baseline for potential 2028 presidential matchups, showing Trump with an advantage over both Harris and Newsom in favorable ratings. However, early polling for a race that is more than two years away carries significant uncertainty. The president's job approval dip, if it continues, could narrow these favorable margins. Both parties will likely conduct additional polling to track how voters assess the administration's performance heading into the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.