Trump emerges ‘most admired’

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has shot to the top of Gallup’s annual poll of the man Americans admire the most for the first time in a tie with his predecessor Barack Obama, who has now held that slot for 12 years.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama polled the most admired woman, for the second year, with current First Lady Melania Trump in the second position.

Gallup has polled Americans every year since 1948, with respondents having the option of choosing anyone in the world; 11% of them named their relatives or friends in 2019.

Gallup attributed Trump’s ascendance to the top spot, polling 18% with Obama, to an improved job approval rating of 45%, his best yet as president, which pulled him from the second spot in 2018 and 2017 with 13% and 11%.

But his increasing popularity appeared confined to Republicans, with 41% of them voting for him now compared to 32% and 35% in 2018 and 2017. This reflects his continuing hold on the party, undiminished by his impeachment.

This poll was conducted between December 2 and 15, during the impeachment hearings.

Others on the list of the most admired man were former US president Jimmy Carter, Tesla founder Elon Musk, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Pope Francis, Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Adam Schiff , the Dalai Lama and investor Warren Buffet.

The most admired women include talk show host Oprah Winfrey, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, climate activist Greta Thunberg, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Supreme Court justice Ruth Ginsberg, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Germany’s Angela Merkel and former US envoy to UN Nikki Haley.