Trump and Mamdani’s Favorability Ratings Compared in Latest Poll

President Donald Trump has a net favorability rating of -8 percent, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll. 42 percent of voters view Trump favorably, while 50 percent have an unfavorable view. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s net favorability is -14 percent; 25 percent view him favorably, and 39 percent unfavorably.

The poll surveyed 2,100 registered voters from August 28-30, 2026, with a margin of error of 2.1 percent. These figures highlight Trump and Mamdani as prominent faces of the Republican and Democratic parties respectively. Trump has reshaped the GOP through his MAGA movement, while Mamdani has become a key figure in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

51 percent of voters believe the Democratic Party is overtaken by the far left; 45 percent think the Republican Party is overtaken by the far right.

Mamdani’s victory over Andrew Cuomo in the New York mayoral primary signaled a shift within the Democratic Party. His rise has fueled debates about embracing or distancing from progressive politics. For Republicans, Trump’s dominance creates challenges in separating from his agenda and style.

The poll reflects a political paradox: Trump and Mamdani, while leading their parties, aren’t favorably viewed by the majority of Americans. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, voters might seek alternative political movements.

Grant Davis Reeher, political science professor at Syracuse University, noted President Trump and Republicans target socialism and Mamdani in negative messaging, affecting public perception. Mamdani’s policy changes and internal issues also impact his image.

Reeher mentioned Trump as the de facto leader of his party despite divisions, while Mamdani isn’t seen as the Democratic Party leader. Craig Agranoff, Florida Atlantic University politics professor, commented on net favorability numbers reflecting visibility and polarization, not party leadership.

The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found only two figures with positive net favorabilities: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marco Rubio. Trump had a better net favorability than Gavin Newsom, Chuck Schumer, Tucker Carlson, and Abdul El-Sayed.

Other polls show differing results. An early-August Siena College poll had 47 percent of New York voters favoring Mamdani. July’s Harvard CAPS/Harris poll showed Trump at -13 percent and Mamdani at -7 percent.

A Siena University poll in June showed Trump at 32 percent favorability versus 63 percent unfavorable; Mamdani rated 45 percent favorable and 34 percent unfavorable.

Overall, the polling results emphasize shifts in favorability with the political landscape.