The honeymoon period is a metaphor that is used to compare the new president coming to power and his first few months with the honeymoon of a newly-married couple.
Full Answer
A “honeymoon period” is a period of popularity enjoyed by a new leader. Usually, the term refers to an incoming president. Traditionally, both Congress and news outlets give presidents a bit of a break at the start of their first terms, so that they can ease into the office. As the Five Thirty Eight blog has noted, ...
This means that a president’s first 100 days in office are the ideal time for them to pass legislation.
Many pundits claim that President Trump never had any honeymoon at all ; the 45th president, they say, faced conflict and criticism from the moment he stepped into office. Opinions are divided as to who carries the blame for that.
Interestingly, some two-term presidents may actually enjoy two honeymoon periods, benefitting from a bounce in their popularity after being elected to a second term. The Washington Post noted that this had happened to Obama, at least:
Presidents typically enjoy elevated job approval ratings in their first months in office—a honeymoon period—before political gravity takes hold, disappointment sets in, and job approval ratings fall back to earth.
Harry Truman came into office with an 87% approval rating, a mark only surpassed twice—once by President George H. W. Bush during the First Gulf War and again by President George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks. But Truman’s approval quickly fell and never recovered.
President Trump did not experience a honeymoon period, and while you might think his Presidency was chaotic, his approval ratings will go down in history as the most stable ever measured. President Biden ran on a promise to break the divisive stalemate gripping our national politics.