'Fake news': Trump is lashing out as approval plummets

Three months into his second presidency, Donald Trump is watching his poll numbers plummet. And he is responding by lashing out at pollsters.

Polls released in late April are showing his approval at 45 percent (NBC News and CBS News/YouGov), 41 percent (CNN/SSRS) or 39 percent (Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos).

Early Monday morning, April 28 on his Truth Social platform, Trump posted, "Great Pollster John McLaughlin, one of the most highly respected in the industry, has just stated that The Failing New York Times Poll, and the ABC/Washington Post Poll, about a person named DONALD J. TRUMP, ME, are FAKE POLLS FROM FAKE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS. The New York Times has only 37% Trump 2024 voters, and the ABC/Washington Post Poll has only 34% Trump Voters, unheard of numbers unless looking for a negative result, which they are. These people should be investigated for ELECTION FRAUD, and add in the FoxNews Pollster while you're at it."

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Trump continued, "They are Negative Criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I WIN ELECTIONS BIG, much bigger than their polls showed I would win, loose a lot of credibility, and then go on cheating and lying for the next cycle, only worse. They suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, and there is nothing that anyone, or anything, can do about it. THEY ARE SICK, almost only write negative stories about me no matter how well I am doing (99.9% at the Border, BEST NUMBER EVER!), AND ARE TRULY THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! I wish them well, but will continue to fight to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

In an article published on April 28, Salon's Heather Digby Parton observes, "One of the most unexpected results of these new polls is the fact that Trump is underwater on every issue now, even his supposed strong suits, immigration and the economy. On the latter he is in terrible shape hovering in the low 30s in some of the polls and even on immigration people are rejecting his tactics. Across the board on every other issue, from tariffs to the assault on DEI to the reckless cutting of government agencies and odious foreign policy, a majority rejects his actions."

Parton stresses that if Trump's poll numbers don't approve, it could be bad news for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

Parton adds, "Now, it must be said that Republicans, by and large, still support Trump…. There are some Republicans who have to worry, however. House members in swing districts and senators in purple states are probably starting to feel a little bit antsy. If this pattern follows previous midterms, they could be looking at a blow out if Trump doesn't improve his numbers.

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Heather Digby Parton's full article for Salon is available at this link.