Who is the greatest Republican president? – YouGov US
Earlier this year, the actor Jon Voight tweeted a video calling Donald Trump the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.
The latest Economist/YouGov poll finds many Republicans agree with Voight. But there is one GOP President since Lincoln whom Republicans rate higher than Trump: A majority (59%) of Republicans believe Ronald Reagan was a better president than the current incumbent.
The public overall overwhelmingly agrees that Reagan was a better President.
Americans in general arent anywhere near as enthusiastic as Republicans are about Donald Trump: his overall approval rating of 41% is less than half his 87% approval rating among Republicans, and fewer than half the public chooses President Trump when asked to choose between him and each of the GOP Presidents since the 1950s. When comparing Trump with Richard Nixon the only President to have resigned from office a majority of Americans, 56%, call Nixon the better President of the two. Even more say that about Dwight Eisenhower (69%), Gerald Ford (59%), George H.W.Bush (63%), and George W. Bush (62%).
But 86% of Republicans rank Trump higher than Nixon. And majorities of Republicans rank the current President above Eisenhower (65%), Ford (82%) and both Bushes (71% for each).
Asked to rank all six GOP post-war Presidents (along with Abraham Lincoln), half the public puts the current incumbent dead last. One in three Republicans rank him first, though a majority of them choose either Reagan or Lincoln as the best.
However, among Republicans the Great Emancipator isnt necessarily thought of as the better president. Half of Republicans go even further than Jon Voight, saying that President Trump is a better President than Lincoln. Most of the overall public disagrees.
Which Republicans rank Trump as better than Lincoln? There isnt much difference by gender. 60% of Republicans who call themselves very conservative say Trump is the better President. Nearly the same percentage of Republicans without a college degree agree.
However, there is a clear regional difference: 62% of Republicans in the South say Trump is the better President; 38% pick Lincoln. Those in all other regions are more likely to give credit to Lincoln. 54% of Republicans outside the South say Lincoln was better. Perhaps for some, Abraham Lincolns leadership during the Civil War, against the southern Confederacy, is still remembered, and perhaps resented.
Related: Americans have followed the impeachment hearings but few minds have changed
See the full survey results and toplines from The Economist/YouGov poll
Image: Getty
See more here:
Who is the greatest Republican president? - YouGov US
- Senate Republicans return to Capitol furious with Trump after big losses - The Hill - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- On 60 Minutes, Trump Says Immigration Crackdown May Have Hurt Republicans in Elections - The New York Times - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- After losing Congress, Republicans have one last shot to pass their agenda - The Detroit News - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- The fight over Republicans future has begun - The Economist - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Missouri Republicans mulling future of congressional redistricting after Prop A failure - STLPR - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Opinion | Jetton: Republicans Fought Each Other and Stopped Talking to Voters. Missouri Noticed. - The Missouri Times - - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Defeated Republicans Return to Washington With 55 Days Left and a Long Wish List - WSJ - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Opinion | Democrats won the midterms. Republicans may have won something bigger. - The Washington Post - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- After losing Congress, Republicans have one last shot to pass their agenda - The Washington Post - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- The midterms blew open the 2028 map. Republicans are panicking. - Politico - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Trump targets Slotkin in call for DOJ probe of alleged Democratic threats to Republicans - CNBC - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Republicans Point Fingers, but Trump Does Not Appear to Be Listening - The New York Times - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Florida Republicans survived the blue wave, but find themselves on shaky ground - The Guardian - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Trumps grip on his party is in question as Republicans reel from the midterm wipeout - AP News - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Trump: Republicans did poorly in midterms because of a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel - The Times of Israel - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Republicans rammed through Supreme Court nominees. Now Democrats will have the votes to stop them - Arkansas Advocate - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- 'This is a disaster': Angry Republicans blame Trump for midterms defeat - BBC - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Meet the Contenders to Lead House Republicans in the Wilderness - Bloomberg Government News - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Letter: Election sends clear message to Republicans - Honolulu Star-Advertiser - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Missourians Rejected Another Abortion Ban. Republicans Say Theyre Not Giving Up Yet. - Rewire News Group - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Opinion | Republicans Got Ruinously High on Their Own Supply - The New York Times - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Republicans were punished in the midterms for Trump's economic policies, The AP Voter Poll shows - Arkansas Advocate - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Trump defends Jensen Huang, but other Republicans could turn up the pressure quickly - Yahoo Finance - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Republicans maintained their majority in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives on Nov. 3 - Ballotpedia News - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Two House Republicans battle to lead the partys diminished ranks - The Washington Post - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- The Midterms Were Bad for Republicans. 2028 Is Going to Be Even Worse. - The New Republic - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Former House Speaker McCarthy on midterm election results: 'This is a wake up call for Republicans' - CNBC - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- GV dems and republicans host watch party for midterm elections - Grand Valley Lanthorn - November 9th, 2026 [November 9th, 2026]
- Paxton Hits the Road, Looking to Rally Texas Republicans - The New York Times - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- The Senate Race Republicans Never Expected to Sweat - WSJ - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Whats missing at No Kings? The Republicans who say theyre fed up with Trump. - MS NOW - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans break away from Trump on foreign policy as Midterms near - WCAX - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- FBI arrests CT man accused of threatening Republicans - CT Mirror - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans have a huge fundraising advantage. Will it matter? - Vox - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans are getting smoked in fundraising - Politico - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans can confirm a Supreme Court justice if Democrats take the Senate, but at what cost? - The Conversation - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Some Republicans in key races break with Trump over tariffs - NBC News - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Trump urges supporters to pretend hes on the ballot as he campaigns with Georgia Republicans - Georgia Recorder - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Trump promises big investment in KY facility 'if the Republicans win' - The Courier-Journal - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans shift funds in the battle for the House, pulling money from some tough races - NBC News - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Michigan elections: What Democrats, Republicans say theyd do if they win big - Bridge Michigan - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans are throwing money at this tossup California district. Should the Democrat worry? - CalMatters - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans break away from Trump on foreign policy as Midterms near - WLFI - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans need to learn the Democrats bitter lesson of 2022 - The Economist - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- Republicans are playing defense and its costing them - CNN - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- A trader just placed a $16K bet against Republicans winning the Texas Senate race in 2026 - Quiver Quantitative - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- A trader just placed a $32K bet against Republicans winning the Ohio Senate race in 2026 - Quiver Quantitative - October 17th, 2026 [October 17th, 2026]
- If Republicans get crushed in the midterms, what's their plan B? | Opinion - USA Today - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- 5 House districts where Republicans are looking to turn the tables as Democrats eye big midterm wins - PBS - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk emerges as the top booster for Republicans with $276 million in donations - CNN - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Republicans Promoted a False Rumor That James Talarico Was in Ohio - The New York Times - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk quietly becomes biggest known donor in midterm contests as he tries to save Republicans - AP News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- What needs to happen for Democrats or Republicans to win control of the House - Yahoo - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Democrats push Medicare for All as Republicans, including Cruz, slam single-payer plan - KBOI - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Republicans hope Trump visiting Ohio will energize voters - News 5 Cleveland WEWS - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Bracing for the midterms, Trump says he will be blamed if Republicans lose - NBC News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Why is the GOP struggling on campus? I asked the College Republicans. - The Detroit News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Ship has sailed: New poll shows even an end to the war or lower gas prices may not save Republicans - Politico - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Opinion | Republicans Are Worried About Gina Hinojosa. In Texas, I Saw Why. - The New York Times - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Republicans Held Onto the Great Plains for Years. Now Theyre Nervous. - The New York Times - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Trump to campaign in Ohio, Alaska with Republicans facing tight races - Reuters - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Trumps influence looms over Texas Republicans. Will it cost them? - Dallas News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Bad blood spills over in the Texas Senate race and its tearing Republicans apart - NBC News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Who is obsessed with men playing in womens sports? JD Vance says Democrats, but Ohio Republicans can't get enough. - The Buckeye Flame - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Why is the GOP struggling on campus? I asked the College Republicans. | Opinion - The Detroit News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Some Republicans Reject Trumps Move to Import Diesel Fuel From Russia - The New York Times - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- A group of Republicans just sounded off on Trumps Russia deal: What to know - AL.com - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk has put at least $276 million into Republicans' midterm hopes since July. Is it helping? - CNN - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Republicans face midterm backlash from factory workers squeezed out of jobs by Trump's tariffs - AP News - October 13th, 2026 [October 13th, 2026]
- Republicans wanted Jack Smith to give them a smoking gun. They got a gaffe instead. - Politico - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans are targeting Jack Smith instead of making things more affordable - US Senator Cory Booker (.gov) - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Murray Calls Out Republicans Failure to Defend Funding for Families & Congress Power of the Purse - Senator Patty Murray (.gov) - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Democrats are running pastors for office. Republicans are attacking their religious comments. - Politico - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Republicans are slow to learn a simple lesson: They cant get the better of Jack Smith - MS NOW - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- US Republicans Werent Happy With Trumps Hosting of Xi - The Diplomat Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Republicans scheme to block Trumps funding cancellations - Politico - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Republicans cant stop talking about banning trans athletes - The 19th News - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- As Republicans break with Trump, one gets a brushback: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Why Republicans are throwing money at the Texas Senate race | CNN Politics - CNN - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans make a final legislative push ahead of the midterms - The Washington Post - September 29th, 2026 [September 29th, 2026]