Pope Leo XIV tops US popularity poll, Trump among least liked

A YouGov survey commissioned by The Economist asked 1,604 eligible US voters to rate 21 public figures. Pope Leo XIV recorded the highest net favorability with a +32 score (55 % positive, 23 % negative). Comedian Jon Stewart was second with a +11 net score (38 % positive, 27 % negative).

Among political figures, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris achieved the best rating among politicians with a net –8, while former president Donald Trump posted a net –22 (37 % favorable, 59 % unfavorable). Trump’s closest associates fared worse: Vice‑president‑candidate JD Vance at –15, former secretary of state Marco Rubio at –14, ex‑Florida governor Ron DeSantis at –13, and his son Donald Trump Jr. at –31. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recorded the lowest net score at –34.

Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2024 and resigned from a security role in May 2026, received a net –8. The poll was conducted online between 29 May and 1 June 2026.