- 39% say they are more hopeful, 30% less hopeful about next four years
- Less positive reaction than to Obama’s first inauguration
- Trump speech rated less positively than those of Bush, Obama
WASHINGTON, D.C — Americans’ reactions to the inaugural ceremonies for Donald Trump were more positive than negative. Thirty-nine percent say they are more hopeful about the next four years based on what they saw, heard or read about Friday’s inauguration, 30% are less hopeful, and 30% say what they heard or read made no difference. That reaction is similar to what Gallup measured for George W. Bush’s and Barack Obama’s second inaugurations, but much less positive than it was for Obama’s first.
Gallup conducted a one-night reaction poll Friday night after Trump was inaugurated as the nation’s 45th president earlier that day, just as it had done immediately after the 2005, 2009 and 2013 inaugurations.Reactions to Trump’s ceremonies are predictably partisan, though Republicans had stronger reactions than Democrats did. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans, including Republican-leaning independents, say they are more hopeful about the next four years after the inaugural ceremonies. In contrast, 56% of Democrats and Democratic leaners are less hopeful about the next four years; 36% say it makes no difference.