Donald Trump’s transition has more recently had to contend with loud criticism of several appointees. | AP Photo Trump's transition approval rating trails Obama and Bush

Donald Trump’s presidential transition polls poorly among Americans, compared with those of Barack Obama and several president-elects before him, according to a recent Pew Research survey.

About 40 percent of Americans Pew surveyed between Nov. 30 and Dec. 5 said they approve of the appointments Trump has made to his Cabinet and other top posts so far. Roughly the same proportion, 41 percent, approve of how he is “explaining his policies and plans for the future.”


A much larger proportion of the public surveyed in December 2008 had a positive view of Obama’s transition: 71 percent said they approved of his Cabinet appointments, and 72 percent approved of how he explained his plans, according to the Pew report. In January 2001, after George W. Bush was elected, 58 percent and 50 percent, respectively, approved of his appointments and how he described his plans.

Trump’s transition, initially dogged by reports that it was in disarray, has more recently had to contend with loud criticism of several appointees. The most controversial has been Steve Bannon, Trump’s incoming chief White House strategist, who previously ran Breitbart News, an anti-establishment, right-wing website that has published material that critics say is racist.

Civil rights groups have also taken issue with Trump’s pick for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, whose appointment to the federal bench in the 1980s was derailed by accusations of racism. And liberals are attacking retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the incoming national security adviser, for his past comments about Muslims and history of spreading false conspiracy theories.

Trump has also drawn complaints for tapping billionaires and millionaires, such as Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education, and Steven Mnuchin, a Goldman Sachs veteran, to head Treasury. Other appointees, such as Housing and Urban Development nominee Ben Carson, face accusations that they are unqualified to serve.

Despite his transition’s low approval ratings so far, the Pew survey indicates that the public is more optimistic about Trump’s presidency than it was in October, when 57 percent of those surveyed thought he would be poor or terrible at the job.

Now, 38 percent say Trump will be poor or terrible as president, while 35 percent believe he will be good or great. Eighteen percent expect him to do an average job.

The survey had a weighted sample of 1,502 adults. Interviews were conducted by both landline and cellphone and in English and Spanish.