Full Breakdown
Donald Trump Tops Worst Americans List While Leading Republican Greatest List in New YouGov Poll
7/3/2026, 8:29:56 PM
Poll Findings: Trump Leads Both Worst and Republican Greatest Rankings
A YouGov survey conducted ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary asked respondents to name the “greatest” and “worst” Americans in history. President Donald Trump received the highest share of votes for the worst-American category, with 34 % of all respondents selecting him. The same poll placed Trump at the top of the greatest-American list among Republicans, with 24 % of Republican respondents naming him the greatest, and 8 % of the overall sample doing so.
Context: 250th-Anniversary Survey and Historical Comparisons
The dual-question format was designed to capture public judgments of historical figures as the nation marked its quarter-century milestone. Only one other president appeared on both lists: former President Barack Obama. Abraham Lincoln led the greatest-American list overall, receiving 18 % of votes, a share that was nearly identical across Democratic and Republican respondents.
Numbers: Rankings and Partisan Split
- Greatest Americans: Lincoln (18 %), George Washington (13 %), Martin Luther King Jr. (12 %), Barack Obama (10 %).
- Worst Americans: Trump (34 % overall; 64 % of Democrats, 34 % of independents, 4 % of Republicans). The worst list also included convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, and former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
- Trump as Greatest: 8 % of all respondents, 24 % of Republicans, 0 % of Democrats, 2 % of independents.
Official Methodology and Future Survey Plans
YouGov conducted two online surveys between June 23-25 (1,110 participants) and June 24-27 (1,118 participants). The samples were weighted to reflect U.S. adult demographics, and the overall margin of error is approximately ±4 percentage points. In a follow-up note, YouGov observed that the findings “mainly highlighted men, as history books typically do,” and announced an upcoming survey focused on the most prominent women in American history.
Criticism of Historical Representation
The same YouGov comment underscores a broader critique that traditional historical narratives—and consequently the poll’s results—overrepresent male figures. This observation points to a gender-representation gap in public perceptions of historical significance, prompting calls for more inclusive surveys.
Implications for Political Polarization
The stark partisan divergence—Republicans favoring Trump as a symbol of greatness while Democrats overwhelmingly label him the nation’s worst—illustrates the depth of contemporary political polarization. The poll’s data reinforce the view that opinions on Trump remain a primary fault line in American public discourse.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No contradictory figures appear across the sources, but the survey’s reliance on online panels and its ±4 point margin of error introduce uncertainty about precise levels of support. Demographic breakdowns beyond party affiliation (e.g., age, geography) are not provided, leaving gaps in a fuller understanding of the electorate’s views.
What’s Next: Upcoming Survey on Prominent Women
YouGov has indicated that a new poll will soon assess public opinion on the most prominent women in U.S. history, aiming to broaden the scope of historical recognition beyond the male-dominated list presented in the current study.
