Trump Has Meltdown After Pols Show Slipping Approval Ratings: ‘Truly OUT OF CONTROL’
Written by b87fm on 01/23/2026
President Donald Trump lashed out at what he called “fake” polling after a series of new surveys showed his approval ratings underwater, singling out The New York Times and threatening legal action.
The backlash followed the release of a New York Times/Siena College poll that appeared to strike a nerve with the president. In a string of Truth Social posts on Thursday, Trump complained about the findings and said the results would be added to his ongoing lawsuit against the newspaper.
“Our lawyers have demanded that they keep all Records, and how they ‘computed’ these fake results — not just the fact that it was heavily skewed toward Democrats,” Trump wrote. “They will be held fully responsible for all of their Radical Left lies and wrongdoing!”
Trump announced in September that he had filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times over its coverage of him. At the time, a spokesperson for the paper dismissed the case, calling it meritless and “an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.”
In a second post Thursday, Trump claimed polling on the economy and the border was “truly out of control,” describing the numbers as “ridiculous and dangerous.” He insisted that the “real polls have been great,” though he did not cite any specific examples. He also accused The New York Times and other media outlets of publishing polling data they “knowingly” falsify.
“They have to pay a price for FAKE AND FRAUDULENT NEWS,” Trump wrote. “And, hopefully, in the not too distant future, they will!”
Trump escalated further in a third post, arguing that “fake and fraudulent polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense.” He criticized multiple media organizations — including Fox News — and accused news outlets of ignoring pollsters who accurately predicted past elections.
“There are great pollsters that called the Election right, but the Media does not want to use them in any way, shape, or form,” Trump wrote. “Isn’t it sad what has happened to American journalism?”
The New York Times/Siena College poll released Thursday showed Trump with a 40 percent approval rating and a 56 percent disapproval rating overall. When respondents were asked about his handling of specific issues, the only area where Trump received a net positive rating was the U.S.-Mexico border, with 50 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving. His approval rating on the economy stood at 40 percent.
Those results align with a broader trend across multiple surveys. RealClearPolitics’ national polling average currently places Trump’s approval rating at 42 percent. A recent CNN poll found nearly six in 10 Americans consider his presidency a “failure.” An Economist/YouGov survey showed Trump at 37 percent approval and 57 percent disapproval, while a CBS News/YouGov poll reported a 41 percent approval rating and 59 percent disapproval.
Trump did not present evidence to support his claims that the polling numbers were manipulated.
The outburst marks the latest chapter in Trump’s long-running feud with media organizations he has repeatedly labeled “the enemy of the people,” as he continues to attack journalists, polling institutions, and news outlets that report unfavorable assessments of his presidency.
