Trump criticized his record-low approval ratings
US President Donald Trump rejected poll results showing a decline in his support among Americans and called the published figures "fake numbers."
He said this in an interview with TIME, which was recorded at the White House on September 28 and published on October 1.
During the conversation, a TIME journalist drew Trump's attention to the fact that his approval ratings had fallen to their lowest levels. The president disagreed with that assessment.
"These are fake numbers. I would beat anyone running today by 20 points. Your numbers are fake. The pollsters are corrupt, almost as much as the journalists," — Trump said.
The president added that, according to the information he has, internal polls show higher support. He cited pollster John McLaughlin, but did not provide specific alternative figures. Trump also emphasized that he is not running in the 2026 elections.
The statement came amid discussion of the midterm congressional elections, which will take place on November 3. They will determine the composition of the House of Representatives and part of the Senate. Trump told TIME that he intends to actively campaign for Republican candidates.
At the same time, independent research indeed records a decline in his rating. According to Ipsos, in September, Trump's job approval rating stood at 32% — the lowest figure for both his first and second presidential terms.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted on September 11–14 among 1,143 adult Americans, also recorded weak approval numbers for the president. The statistical margin of error was about three percentage points.
The decline in approval comes less than five weeks before the midterm elections. Although Trump's name will not appear on the ballot, the voting results will determine the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of his presidential term.
