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When President Biden and former President Donald Trump go head-to-head in the upcoming November election, one of them will end his presidency after just one term. Trump, a Republican who lost to Biden in 2020, aims to win back the presidency in 2024 as Biden faces challenges with low approval ratings, similar to those of former President Jimmy Carter. As of February, Biden’s approval rating was 38% according to a Gallup poll, barely higher than Carter’s record-low rating of 37.4%.
Biden appears to be in a more challenging position than Carter was in 1980. Back then, Carter led Reagan 58% to 33% in a Gallup poll in March, but Reagan eventually won in a landslide. There isn’t a direct Gallup comparison for Biden and Trump in 2024, but recent polls suggest a close race, with Trump slightly ahead. A Fox News Poll found Trump with 49% support and Biden at 47%, a statistical tie within the margin of error.
Biden’s approval rating has plummeted to near Carter levels, according to Gallup. A photo shows former President Trump and President Biden, indicating they are set for a rematch in the November election.
Craig Shirley, a Reagan biographer, attributed Carter’s early lead over Reagan to sympathy for the Iranian hostage crisis. The crisis began when radicalized students took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran in protest of Carter’s decision to allow the Shah of Iran into the U.S. for medical treatment. The hostages were held for 444 days, and attempts to free them were unsuccessful.
The image shows President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, highlighting Carter’s loss in the 1980 election amid high inflation and a foreign policy crisis.
Shirley mentioned that public attitudes shifted regarding the hostage crisis, as people believed Carter was using it for political gain. Despite hopes to release the hostages before the election, it did not happen. Carter’s reelection efforts were also hampered by economic challenges, with inflation and unemployment in double digits, a situation known as “stagflation.” The crisis in Iran worsened the U.S. economy, leading to long lines at gas stations and incidents of gas theft.
Biden and Trump are set for a historic rematch, the first presidential election rematch since 1956. The image shows the Iran hostage crisis, where U.S. hostages were held by Iran.
Inflation was a significant issue during Carter’s final years, with rates reaching nearly 14% in 1980. Biden faces similar challenges, with persistent inflation despite efforts to address it. Inflation surged to 9.1% in 2022 but has since decreased, though it remains above the Federal Reserve’s target rate. High inflation has put financial pressure on U.S. households, especially low-income families.
Trump and Biden have secured their party’s nominations for the 2024 election. The image shows cars lined up at gas stations during the 1970s oil supply shock.
Inflation concerns continue, with the CPI indicating ongoing high rates. Biden’s foreign policy has also faced criticism, particularly after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. Biden’s handling of these issues has affected his approval ratings.
Trump faces his own challenges, including criminal charges and trials. Despite these obstacles, he aims to make Biden a one-term president. Trump has focused on immigration and inflation in his campaign.
Shirley believes that for Trump to succeed, he must focus on making Biden the issue of the campaign. He compares Trump’s focus on immigration to Reagan’s emphasis on anti-communism. Reagan’s successful campaign strategy was based on strong national defense, federalism, tax cuts, and individual rights, values that continue to resonate with the Republican Party.
This report includes contributions from Fox News Digital’s team.