Trump Now More Popular Than Obama at Same Point in His Presidency
By Jason Hopkins
February 9, 2018 at 8:57am

President Donald Trump's approval numbers continue to rise.

According to Thursday's Rasmussen Reports daily survey, the Republican president's approval rating has ticked up to 48 percent, virtually tying his disapproval rating, which stands at 50 percent.

Not only is this the best approval rating spread for Trump since he entered the White House, but it also beats former President Obama's rating during his same time in office.

On the same day in February 2010, Rasmussen reported Obama's approval rating at just 46 percent and his disapproval rating at 54 percent.

The latest numbers for Trump are a continuation of his steady rise in job approval rating. Having been underwater by double-digits for most of his presidency, Trump has recently shaved off the spread and is now virtually even with his approval and disapproval rating.

Rasmussen isn't the only polling firm to report on a Trump bump, nor is the president the only Republican enjoying an uptick in support.

Trump's approval rating in a new Quinnipiac poll released this week was the highest the survey has reported in seven months, while Monmouth University also reported on a sharp rise in support.

Generic surveys ahead of the midterm elections have indicated a dramatic rise in GOP support among registered voters.

According to all surveys involved, the Republican Party bump is due largely to the passage of tax reform.

In what was Trump's first major legislative accomplishment as president, he signed GOP-led tax reform into law late last year. The reforms were the most sweeping changes to U.S. tax law since the Reagan administration, slashing tax rates across the board for U.S. companies and the average American taxpayer.

Upon the bill's passage, major U.S. employers began announcing a plethora of employee benefits, including pay raises, bonuses, added investments and other similar measures.

Since GOP-led tax reform, a significant majority of Americans believe the economy is in great shape.

In the same Quinnipiac survey, 70 percent of respondents said they believed the U.S. economy is excellent or good — this is the best rating of that question from Quinnipiac since 2001. Additionally, 75 percent said they have a positive view of their personal financial situation.

At least six recent national surveys have reported on Trump's climbing approval numbers in the past two months.

The president has celebrated the numbers on social media.

https://www.westernjournal.com/trump-now-popular-obama-point-presidency/