Trump Casts Doubt on Polls’ Legitimacy Amid Failing Ratings – President Donald Trump tried to cast doubt on the legitimacy of polls amid multiple reports that his approval rating has slumped to its lowest level yet, as Americans continue to grapple with rising costs, which many attribute to the president’s decisions so far in his term.
Speaking in an interview with the Washington Examiner, the president called polls “fake,” insisting his approval rating was closer to 60% than recent RealClearPolitics research, which found only 38.8% of Americans had a favorable view of his job performance. More than 60% disapproved of the president’s performance.
2016 Donald Trump Campaign Stop Creative Commons
Donald Trump in 2024 Creative Commons
“I don’t believe I could be beaten by anybody. I think that if I needed it, which I don’t, I think 60,” Trump said, referring to his approval rating.
Trump Works to Give Republican Candidates a Boost
The US commander-in-chief’s remarks come as he winds down from a grueling campaign season. The president has once again found himself in his element as he campaigned for Republican candidates around the country to stave off what many believe is an inevitable “Blue wave” this election season that will see Republicans lose their majority in the US legislature.
“It’s a strain on your voice. It’s a strain. You know, it’s not normal, what I’ve done,” Trump told reporters after he and First Lady Melania Trump cast their ballots at their polling precinct in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I’m not campaigning for myself — I’m campaigning for other people, some of whom I don’t know,” the president added.
White House Comes to the President’s Defense
As Trump tries to boost Republicans on the ticket, the White House has consistently defended the president’s performance and blasted news pointing to his dipping approval ratings.
“President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement. “He (Trump) is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress,” Ingle added.
Trump’s White House press team has also called the sharp spike in gas prices and other effects of the president’s policies “temporary disruptions” in the short term, but stressed that the US is still on a “solid economic trajectory.”
President’s Approval Ratings Hit Record Lows
President Trump’s approval ratings are at their lowest yet, with a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicating that only 31% of Americans approve of the commander-in-chief’s job performance so far — a percentage point below the same metric from just two weeks earlier.
More respondents to a “generic ballot” question said they would vote for Democrats this midterm election, with 47% of registered voters saying they would do so, compared with 35% who said they would vote Republican. The GOP lost support from just two weeks ago, which put the preference for liberals over conservatives at 44% and 37%, respectively.
Other pollsters also showed voters’ opinion of the president was withering, with the Washington Post putting Trump’s approval rating at 33%. Fox News reported a similar figure of 36%.
In comparison, Gallup had former president Joe Biden’s lowest approval rating at 36%, while FiveThirtyEight tracked it at a slightly lower 35.6%.
Republicans are Breaking Ranks – Some Privately, Some Publicly
Despite the president’s efforts to boost Republicans’ chances in the midterm polls, many in the GOP struggle to address the effects of Trump’s decision-making head-on without directly confronting the president and his supporters.
Some, like Florida Representative Maria Salazar, have opted to criticize the president’s policies rather than the man himself. In a political ad, Salazar urged Trump to be more cautious when taking advice on immigration policy.
Other Republicans, like Andy Barr, the Kentucky Senate nominee, removed any references to the president from their campaign websites. Byron Donalds, running for governor in Florida, and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson have done the same.
Steve Hilton, angling to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom and end nearly 16 years of Democratic dominance in the state, has focused his campaign on more practical economic issues, saying in an interview, “I’ve never been an ideologue; I’ve never been a tribal.” A political ad for Hilton also told Californians that the November polls “isn’t about who you hate in Washington.”
About the Author: Tim Ramos
Tim Ramos has written for various publications, corporations, and organizations, covering everything from finance and politics to travel, entertainment, and sports, in Asia and the U.S. for more than 10 years.
