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Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling

From the Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data series

Feb 22, 2016
Feb 22, 2016 Updated Jan 15, 2017

As President Barack Obama serves his final year in office, the nation will attempt to evaluate his legacy. Was the Affordable Care Act a step forward or a step back? Did Obama’s policies improve the economy? And how did the president handle the threat of terrorism?

(27) updates to this series since Updated Jan 15, 2017

Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling

47% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Climate Change

Topic: Climate Change - Obama's ninth-worst issue

50.2% of Americans Disapprove of Obama's Job Performance

Topic: Job As President (1/2) - Obama's eighth-worst issue

Americans Think U.S. Is Headed in Wrong Direction

Topic: Job As President (2/2) - Obama's eighth-worst issue

52% of Americans Disapprove How Obama Handled the Economy

Topic: Economy - Obama's seventh-worst issue

55.3% Disapprove of How Obama Handled U.S./Iran Relations

Topic: U.S. and Iran (1/3) - Obama's sixth-worst issue

Most Americans Wanted to End Nuclear Sanctions on Iran

Topic: U.S. and Iran (2/3) - Obama's sixth-worst issue

Most Americans Wanted Congress to Reject Iran Deal

Topic: U.S. and Iran (3/3) - Obama's sixth-worst issue

56% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Foreign Affairs

Topic: Foreign Affairs (1/4) - Obama's fifth-worst issue

Americans Blame Iraq On Obama Almost as Much as Bush

Topic: Foreign Affairs (3/4) - Obama's fifth-worst issue

Most Americans Do Not Want to Close Gitmo

Topic: Foreign Affairs (4/4) - Obama's fifth-worst issue

55.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Health Care

Topic: Health Care - Obama's fourth-worst issue

55.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Terrorism

Topic: Terrorism (1/3) - Obama's third-worst issue

Americans Changed Their Perspective On Refugees After Paris Attacks

Topic: Terrorism (2/3) - Obama's third-worst issue

Most Americans Thought a December Terrorist Attack Was Likely

Topic: Terrorism (3/3) - Obama's third-worst issue

Most Americans Favor Stricter Background Checks on Guns

Topic: Gun Policy (2/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

Most Americans Disapprove of Obama's Executive Orders on Guns

Topic: Gun Policy (3/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

Most Americans Do Not Think Executive Orders Will Reduce Gun Deaths

Topic: Gun Policy (4/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

A Plurality of Americans Think Obama Has Gone Too Far on Guns

Topic: Gun Policy (5/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

About Half of Americans Oppose Sending Ground Troops to Combat ISIS

Topic: ISIS (2/5) - Obama's worst issue

A Majority of Americans Believe the U.S. Will Eventually Send Ground Troops

Topic: ISIS (3/5) - Obama's worst issue

A Clear Majority of Americans Believe ISIS Terrorists Are Currently in the U.S.

Topic: ISIS (4/5) - Obama's worst issue

Most Americans No Longer Want U.S. to Be International Peacekeeper

Topic: Foreign Affairs (2/4) - Obama's fifth-worst issue

56.8% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Gun Policy

Topic: Gun Policy (1/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

A Majority of Americans Report They Do Not Own a Gun

Topic: Gun Policy (6/6) - Obama's second-worst issue

61.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled ISIS

Topic: ISIS (1/5) - Obama's worst issue

A Clear Majority of Americans Believe the U.S. Military Response to ISIS Was Not Aggressive Enough

Topic: ISIS (5/5) - Obama's worst issue

In this Series

Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data

Updated Jan 15, 2017
10 moments to remember from Obama’s farewell address
Updated Jan 15, 2017
25 facts about Barack Obama
Updated Jan 15, 2017
Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling
5 updates

As featured on

Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data

These charts capture the changes and the images recall key moments of the Obama administration.

Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling

From the Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data series

Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling

47% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Climate Change

50.2% of Americans Disapprove of Obama's Job Performance

Americans Think U.S. Is Headed in Wrong Direction

52% of Americans Disapprove How Obama Handled the Economy

55.3% Disapprove of How Obama Handled U.S./Iran Relations

Most Americans Wanted to End Nuclear Sanctions on Iran

Most Americans Wanted Congress to Reject Iran Deal

56% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Foreign Affairs

Americans Blame Iraq On Obama Almost as Much as Bush

Most Americans Do Not Want to Close Gitmo

55.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Health Care

55.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Terrorism

Americans Changed Their Perspective On Refugees After Paris Attacks

Most Americans Thought a December Terrorist Attack Was Likely

Most Americans Favor Stricter Background Checks on Guns

Most Americans Disapprove of Obama's Executive Orders on Guns

Most Americans Do Not Think Executive Orders Will Reduce Gun Deaths

A Plurality of Americans Think Obama Has Gone Too Far on Guns

About Half of Americans Oppose Sending Ground Troops to Combat ISIS

A Majority of Americans Believe the U.S. Will Eventually Send Ground Troops

A Clear Majority of Americans Believe ISIS Terrorists Are Currently in the U.S.

Most Americans No Longer Want U.S. to Be International Peacekeeper

56.8% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled Gun Policy

A Majority of Americans Report They Do Not Own a Gun

61.5% of Americans Disapprove of How Obama Handled ISIS

A Clear Majority of Americans Believe the U.S. Military Response to ISIS Was Not Aggressive Enough

In this Series

Looking back: Summing up the Obama years in photos, data

10 moments to remember from Obama’s farewell address

25 facts about Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s Biggest Failures, According to National Polling

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