As President Biden's term concludes, a recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll reveals mixed public sentiment regarding his legacy. A significant 44% of voters believe history will judge him as a failed president, while 27% anticipate a "fair" assessment. A smaller portion, 21%, predict a "good" rating, and only 5% foresee him being remembered as a "great" president. This poll comes as Donald Trump prepares for his second term in office, commencing next week.

Interestingly, the same poll indicates a similar perception of Trump's potential legacy, with 44% of respondents also predicting he will be seen as a failed president. However, one-fifth of those polled believe Trump will achieve a "great" president status, while 19% anticipate a "good" rating and 27% a "fair" one.

Public opinion of Trump's first term appears to have shifted since his November election victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who assumed the Democratic nomination after Biden withdrew following a poorly received debate performance against Trump. The poll shows 52% approval for Trump's initial term, compared to 45% disapproval, a notable change from his negative approval ratings at the end of his first four years.

David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, highlighted the shift in independent voters' views, noting that Trump significantly improved his standing within this crucial demographic. He went from a substantially negative rating to a near-neutral one.

Looking forward, the poll reveals a range of emotions regarding Trump's return to the White House. While 31% express excitement and 18% satisfaction, a considerable 31% also admit to feeling afraid, and 12% report feeling depressed.

As for Biden's approval ratings upon leaving office, 43% approve of his performance, while 54% disapprove. His approval, initially in the low to mid-50s, declined starting in August 2021, influenced by factors such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan, rising COVID-19 cases, increasing inflation, and the situation at the southern border.

The poll also explored public perception of Biden's accomplishments and failures. While nearly a quarter of respondents were undecided about his biggest achievement, 19% cited infrastructure investment, and 10% pointed to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding his biggest failure, over 30% identified immigration, followed by 20% who cited the Afghanistan withdrawal.