Americans Weigh In on Melania Trump’s Role as First Lady
Melania Trump’s time as Melania Trump has been a mix of public appearances and private life, reflecting the roller-coaster path of her husband, Donald Trump. While she continues to maintain a low profile, a new poll reveals what Americans really think about her tenure compared to other first ladies.
A Different Second Term
Before returning to the White House in January last year, Melania promised her second term would be “different.” The Slovenian-born former model planned to split her time between Washington, Palm Beach, and New York City, while continuing her duties as First Lady.
While her Be Best initiative remained ongoing, much of her second term centered on a documentary about her life. Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for the filming rights, and the film debuted in January. Melania expressed pride in the project despite mixed reviews:
“I’m very proud of the film. People may like it, may not like it—that’s their choice. For me, it’s already a success,” she told CNN.
Poll Reveals Approval Ratings
A recent YouGov poll sheds light on public perception. Conducted online with 2,255 adults across two 2026 surveys, the poll used a weighted, stratified sample based on gender, age, race, education, voter registration, and previous election participation.
The results showed Melania with a -16 approval rating, lower than Jill Biden’s -9 but slightly higher than Hillary Clinton at -17. By comparison, other First Ladies received considerably higher ratings:
- Nancy Reagan: +25
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