BARACK OBAMA TOPS POLL AS MOST ADMIRED PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Former United States President Barack Obama has emerged as the most admired president in American history, according to a CNN opinion poll that places him ahead of current President Donald Trump and some of America’s most celebrated historical leaders
The survey, conducted by research firm SSRS among 2,480 American adults between May 7 and 31, 2026, found that 30 percent of respondents named Obama as the president they admired most.
President Donald Trump came second with 19 percent, while former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan tied in third place with 9 percent each.
John F. Kennedy followed with 6 percent, while George Washington received 5 percent.
The survey also revealed that Obama continues to enjoy considerable popularity among Americans, with 57 percent expressing a favourable opinion of him, compared with 34 percent for Trump and 30 percent for former President Joe Biden.
Obama, who served as America’s 44th president from 2009 to 2017, made history as the country’s first African-American president.
The findings highlight his enduring popularity nearly a decade after leaving the White House, although the survey measured public admiration rather than presidential performance.
The CNN poll results were originally published on June 18, 2026.