Much has changed since the first time Donald Trump was elected to the presidency in 2016, including how Americans feel about him before taking office.
Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder and that appears to be the case for the once and future president and the way Americans perceive him, a new poll showed.
The poll, conducted by CNN and released on Thursday, showed that six in 10 Americans believe that Trump will do a “very good” or “fairly good” job during his second term and only 43 percent said he will do a “fairly poor” or “very poor” job,” The Hill reported.
“Among respondents, 55 percent approve of the president-elect’s handling of his transition, while 45 percent disapprove. The figures are the same as in the December iteration of the survey.,” the report said.
“Trump’s favorability is nearly equally divided, with 46 percent saying they have a favorable view of him, while another 48 percent said they had an unfavorable view. Despite Republicans having the trifecta in Washington, 53 percent of respondents said having the House, Senate and the White House under GOP control is “bad” for the country.,” it said.
“Another 56 percent said they think a year from today, economic conditions will be either very or somewhat good,” it said.
The poll also showed that a whopping 80 percent take Trump at his word that he will impose tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Trump’s official inauguration portrait has been released, and it may be the most “badass” inauguration photo of all time, according to some.
It is part of what is coming together as a fantastic inauguration ceremony for him that will feature some top stars and CEOs.
Bo Loudon, a close friend of Barron Trump, posted the picture on his social media accounts, labeling it the “most badass photo ever.”
BREAKING: President Trump's Official Inauguration Portrait was JUST RELEASED!
This is the most BADASS photo I've ever seen! pic.twitter.com/64Nide8oN7
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 15, 2025
“We already know that Carrie Underwood and Lee Greenwood are set to sing at Donald Trump‘s inauguration, but they’re not the only country stars who’ll be front and center at the festivities,” CT40 reported.
“Greenwood will also perform at The Make America Great Again Victory Rally, along with Billy Ray Cyrus, Kid Rock, and The Village People. The singers famous for ‘YMCA’ are also on tap for The Liberty Ball, along with Jason Aldean and another surprise guest,” it said.
The Commander-in-Chief Ball will also feature country stars Parker McCollum and Rascal Flatts.
Tech CEOs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, along with Alphabet, the parent company of Google, CEO Sundar Pichai, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, will also be on hand for the inauguration, according to reports.
But the performance of Underwood caused consternation from one of the co-hosts of “The View,” Joy Behar, who was quickly smacked down by a former Republican co-host.
Former ‘View’ co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck shredded her one-time colleague after Behar insulted the country music superstar for deciding to perform at Trump’s inauguration.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood told the Daily Beast about her decision, which she said wasn’t political. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
But Behar was furious and made a number of unsubstantiated and false accusations about Underwood and Trump.
“She says, ‘I love our country.’ How do you love your country and support and normalize somebody who was a convicted felon who really wants to destroy the country, in my opinion?” Behar whined. “I don’t understand how you say you love your country at the same time that you normalize this convicted felon.”
Hasselbeck responded to Behar in a post on X in which she said “[Joy Behar] needs to simmer down off my friend,” before she appeared on Fox News later on Tuesday.
“I would have loved to have been at that table today. They’ve refused to put anyone there who has a lick of sense,” she said.
