Trump Calls For An Investigation Into ‘fake’ Polls Showing Lower Approval Rating

[Craig Nigrelli]

AS APPROVAL RATINGS FALL, TRUMP SAYS POLLS ARE PART OF A ‘FAKE NEWS’ PUSH

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CALLING FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLLSTERS HE CLAIMS ARE BIASED, AS HIS APPROVAL RATINGS SLIP NEAR THE 100-DAY MARK OF HIS SECOND TERM.

NEW POLLS FROM CNN, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND ABC NEWS SHOW TRUMP’S APPROVAL RATING HOVERING AROUND 41 TO 42 PERCENT—SOME OF THE LOWEST OF HIS PRESIDENCY. ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, IT’S HARD TO FIND A SINGLE “GOOD” NUMBER FOR THE PRESIDENT IN THE LATEST DATA.

TRUMP ISN’T TAKING IT QUIETLY. ON TRUTH SOCIAL, HE ACCUSED POLLING ORGANIZATIONS OF “ELECTION FRAUD,” CALLING OUT OUTLETS LIKE THE NEW YORK TIMES, ABC, AND EVEN FOX NEWS AS “FAKE NEWS” PUSHING “FAKE POLLS.” 

TRUMP’S DEFENSE ISN’T NEW. LAST YEAR, HE SUED AN IOWA POLLING FIRM OVER BAD NUMBERS JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION. THE CASE WAS LATER DISMISSED AS A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE, WITH COURTS REJECTING THE IDEA THAT INACCURATE POLLING EQUALS LEGAL FRAUD.

DESPITE THE DROP IN NATIONAL SUPPORT, TRUMP STILL HOLDS STRONG WITH HIS BASE. A PEW RESEARCH STUDY FOUND 70% OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND REPUBLICAN-LEANING INDEPENDENTS BACK HIS POLICIES. 

ANALYSTS, INCLUDING THOSE CITED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, WARN THAT POLLING DURING POLARIZED TIMES COMES WITH CAVEATS. SAMPLE SIZES, QUESTION PHRASING, AND WHO’S WILLING TO PICK UP THE PHONE ALL MATTER.

FOR NOW, THE NUMBERS SHOW A PRESIDENT UNDER PRESSURE—AND A POLITICAL LANDSCAPE THAT’S ONLY GETTING MORE DIVIDED.

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