A new poll comparing America’s First Ladies has sparked fresh debate.
While some women who held the role remain widely admired decades later, the current First Lady, Melania Trump, finds herself in a far more complicated position… caught somewhere in the middle of a fiercely divided public.
A competitive field
The poll, which surveyed 2,255 US citizens, set Melania alongside some of the most recognizable figures to ever serve as First Lady, including Michelle Obama and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis — meaning expectations were always going to be high.
Melania has long been viewed as something of an enigma. Despite her global visibility, she has typically maintained a relatively private lifestyle, especially when compared with the intense spotlight surrounding her husband, Donald Trump, whose polarizing reputation continues to split public opinion.
According to polling from YouGov, Melania holds an approval rating of -16. That places her behind her successor Jill Biden, who scored -9, but not at the very bottom of the list.
That distinction went to Hillary Clinton, who registered -17. Still, the data suggests negative ratings are fairly common among modern political figures, reflecting today’s deeply divided climate.
The most popular First Ladies
Despite the mixed scores overall, several First Ladies earned positive marks from the public — and from both sides of the political aisle.
Among them:
- Nancy Reagan (+25)
- Rosalynn Carter (+32)
- Lady Bird Johnson (+23)
- Barbara Bush (+21)
- Michelle Obama (+21)
- Laura Bush (+19)
But towering above them all was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who achieved a remarkable +56 approval rating — underscoring her enduring legacy decades after leaving the White House.
The poll also highlighted a familiar trend: Melania performed significantly better among Republicans than Democrats, mirroring the broader partisan divide surrounding her husband’s presidency.
Trump’s ranking
Explaining its methodology, the polling firm said:
“A random sample (stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration) was selected from the 2019 American Community Survey.
“The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status.”
The poll comes as Melania Trump’s divisive documentary hits the spotlight, reportedly raking in $7 million during its opening weekend. (Amazon reportedly paid $40 million to secure the rights to Melania Trump’s documentary and invested an additional $35 million on marketing and promotion.)
The survey also looked at former presidents — and the results were just as striking. Donald Trump ranked last among the 20 commanders-in-chief included, earning a net approval rating of -20. Close behind was Joe Biden, who emerged as the second least popular in the poll.
Around 48 percent of respondents believe Donald Trump is “poor,” while another 6 percent say he is “below average.”
