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Trump ends Obama's 12-year run as most admired man in America, Internet says Gallup poll is a 'friggin joke'

Trump polled an impressive eighteen percent of the survey's respondents. In comparison, Obama received 15 percent of the vote, while President-elect Joe Biden barely scratched 6 percent

President Donald Trump has ended former President Barack Obama's 12-year reign as the most admired man in the United States, according to the annual Gallup survey published Tuesday. Trump was named as the most admired man by an impressive eighteen percent of the survey's respondents. In comparison, Obama received 15 percent of the vote, while President-elect Joe Biden barely scratched 6 percent. Meanwhile, three percent reportedly named National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, and two percent said Pope Francis, The Hill reported.

Other notable figures among the top 10 were Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, and the Dalai Lama, all of whom received 1 percent of the votes, per the outlet.

Michelle Obama ranks as most admired woman for the third year in a row. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is second.

In the 74 times Gallup has asked the open-ended most admired man question since 1946, the incumbent president has topped the list 60 times, the report said. This included all eight years of Obama's tenure at the White House, as well as every year of George W. Bush's presidency. That said, Trump finished second to Obama in 2017 and 2018, according to The Hill.

This is the 10th time Trump has ranked among the top 10 of most admired men in the US, also making the list in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 2011. Meanwhile, this is only Biden's second appearance in the top 10 - after having made the list in 2018.

According to Gallup, 48 percent of Republican respondents named Trump. Considering, no other figure gained over 2 percent of the Republican support. Both Obama and Trump received 11 percent support among independents, per the poll. Meanwhile, 11 percent of Americans named a friend or relative, while 21 percent offered no response. Gallup surveyed 1,018 adults from December 1 to 17 and reported a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Trump supporters on social media celebrated the unexpected polling victory.

"It's such a revelation about American culture and politics to see this. Among Republicans, 48 % say Trump is the man they most admire. No other figure got more than 2%," Canadian pollster Bruce Anderson tweeted. "President Trump has been named the MOST ADMIRED MAN by Gallup! Obama won this title for 12 years and now has lost. America LOVES President Trump & he WON this election!" another user added.

"But Sleepy Joe won! Yeah, right!!! And Barry now is only a bad memory!" a third chimed in.

Trump's critics, however, inundated the platform with tweets denigrating the poll. "Trump ends Obama's 12-year run as most admired man Sorry, the Gallup poll was at one time a respectable bastion of American thoughts. It has now turned a corner to a conservative conspiracy theory medium that gives credence to the alt-right tRUMP cult," one wrote.

"I’m confused by the Gallup poll showing Trump is the most admired American. Does this mean David Duke was ineligible for consideration?" another quipped. "Look at the actual percentages in this and tell me one reason we should listen to anything #Gallup has to say Poll companies are a friggin joke," a third added.