President Trump’s first-place finish as the 2020 most admired man in America ends his predecessor, President Obama’s 12-year run for the honor, according to the annual Gallup survey released Tuesday morning.
This year marks the 10th time Trump has finished among the top 10 men, including four times before he entered party politics — 1988 through 1990 and 2011. Trump tied former President Barack Obama for the honor last year but edged out his predecessor this year.
The sitting U.S. president has been named the pollster’s most-admired man in 60 out of 74 years, including all of the eight years of Obama’s presidency and every year of George W. Bush’s presidency except for 2008. In 2017 and 2018, Trump came second to Obama in the Gallup annual survey.
Eighteen percent of Gallup’s respondents named Trump as their most admired man, compared to 15 percent who named Obama. Meanwhile, only 6 percent named Joe Biden while 3 percent would named National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, and 2 percent named Pope Francis. The rest of the top 10 named — Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and the Dalai Lama, all received 1 percent each.
Amongst party lines, 48 percent (122 respondents) of Republicans named Trump. No other public figure got more than 2 percent of Republican respondent support. With Democrats, 32 percent (100 respondents) selected Obama as their top choice, down from 41 percent of support the former president received last year. Biden was also commonly named by Democrats, receiving 13 percent (41 respondents) of the votes.
Independents were evenly split between Trump (48 respondents) and Obama (46 respondents) with both men receiving 11 percent of support, while Biden garnished 3 percent (13 respondents) and 2 percent (10 respondents) named Dr. Fauci.
Additionally, the nation’s top infectious disease expert was the choice of 5 percent (15 respondents) of Democrats, but only 1 percent (2 respondents) from Republicans.
Since 1946, Gallup has asked the open-ended most admired man question, with two years later expanding the question to ask the public in naming the woman they admire most. This year, 10 percent (106 respondents) of Americans named former First Lady Michelle Obama as the most admired woman, marking the third year in a row. Kamala Harris came second with 6 percent (64 respondents) followed by 4 percent (38 respondents) naming the current First Lady Melania Trump. Melania has been in the top 10 each of the past four years but has never finished first, joining Bess Truman and Lady Bird Johnson as former or current first ladies not to have received the distinction.
Rounding out the top 10 were Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, each receiving 2 percent of support. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and climate activist Greta Thunberg were also named with both receiving 1 percent of support each.
Among party lines, figures from their own party were the highest-ranking women. Eight percent (20 respondents) of Republicans named Melania Trump, followed by Barrett and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley with 4 percent each. Seventeen percent (52 respondents) of Democrats named Michelle Obama, followed by 16 percent (49 respondents) named Harris and 5 percent (17 respondents) who named Ocasio-Cortez.
With Independents, 11 percent (46 respondents) named Michelle, while 4 percent (18 respondents) named Melania.
The Rev. Billy Graham, who passed away in 2018, is the current record-holder for appearances, finishing among the top 10 a record 61 times during his life. Former President Jimmy Carter currently holds the most represented living person who has appeared on the top 10 finishes list 29 times, putting him behind Graham and former President Ronald Reagan for third all-time. This year, Carter finished just outside the top 10 but made the 2019 list.
Pollsters surveyed 1,018 adults from Dec. 1-17. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Amy Coney BarrettGallup PollHillary ClintonJoe BidenKamala HarrisMelania TrumpMichelle ObamaMost Admired ManMost Admired WomanPresident TrumpRep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezRev. Billy GrahamWhite House News
Jonathan C Schon
December 29, 2020how often do they do this survey? is 60 times a typo?
ByMonaSalama
December 30, 2020minor mistake, misread the press release that said “the sitting president…” Thank you for letting me know. Happy New Year!!!