(Gallup) In the aftermath of the contentious 2024 U.S. presidential election, large majorities of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents describe their reaction to Donald Trump’s victory as optimistic (86%), relieved (85%), excited (76%) and proud (72%). In contrast, majorities of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents report feeling afraid (76%), angry (68%) and devastated (61%) about the election’s result.
Democrats are more than twice as likely as Republicans to say they are surprised by the election outcome (59% vs. 27%, respectively).
Very few Democrats express any positive emotions, and very few Republicans express any negative ones.
Overall, no more than half of U.S. adults describe their reaction to the election using any of the eight emotions included in the Gallup survey, which was conducted Nov. 6-20, 2024, the two-week period after Trump’s victory. Fifty percent of U.S. adults say they are optimistic about the election results, and between 40% and 46% are relieved, excited or proud. Fewer, 29% to 38% of Americans, report feeling afraid, angry or devastated.
Gallup asked most of these items after Trump’s unexpected victory in 2016. The biggest difference in emotions between 2016 and now is in the percentage saying they are surprised. In 2016, 75% of U.S. adults were surprised, compared with 41% today. Meanwhile, there are slightly more Americans now than in 2016 saying they are proud or excited. This year’s readings for relief, devastation, fear and anger are not statistically different from those in 2016, and optimism was not included in the 2016 list.
Both Democrats and Republicans are now less surprised with the election outcome than they were in 2016, but surprise has fallen more among Republicans (by 37 percentage points) than Democrats (29 points). Meanwhile, the increases in pride and excitement are owed to more Republicans expressing those emotions compared with 2016.
Most Americans Will Accept Trump as Legitimate President
More than nine in 10 Americans say they will accept Trump as the legitimate president, including 99% of Republicans and Republican leaners and 84% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Gallup last asked this question after Trump’s surprise 2016 victory, in which he won the Electoral College but not the popular vote. At that time, fewer Americans (84%) and Democrats (77%) said they would accept Trump than do so now.
