Trump Shrugs Off Polls, Claims 60% Approval and Election Credit
WHO:
Daily Kos - Trump discussed the election and his campaign agenda during a Sunday morning press gaggle; he said, “I think the rallies have turned it, frankly.”
Daily Kos - Trump named Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, and Alaska, where the article said Democratic Senate candidates were leading or tied and a Democratic win would flip a Republican-held seat.
The Independent - In an interview with The Washington Examiner’s Byron York, Trump called polling figures “fake” and said, “I think 60.”
The Independent - Trump cited support among Republican voters and his MAGA base. CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten reported Trump received 99 percent of the MAGA Republican vote in the 2024 election and had 98 percent approval among MAGA Republicans in September.
The Independent - The article identifies RealClearPolitics, Reuters/Ipsos, Pew Research Center, The New York Times/Siena College, and Wedgewood Research in connection with polling.
WHAT:
Daily Kos - Asked what voters’ top issue was, Trump did not name an issue and said, “I’m hearing we turned the whole thing around.”
Daily Kos - The article says Trump insulted his Alaska followers, suggesting they did not know what “incumbent” meant.
The Independent - RealClearPolitics’ average showed 38.8 percent approval and 60.4 percent disapproval. Trump rejected those numbers, asking, “The job approval, they said it’s 37, 38?” and saying, “I’m not at 38.”
The Independent - A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 34 percent approval and 65 percent disapproval; a separate Reuters/Ipsos survey put Trump’s approval at 31 percent, which the article described as his lowest recorded across both presidential terms.
The Independent - A Pew Research Center survey found 30 percent approval and 68 percent disapproval. A New York Times/Siena College poll put approval at 34 percent, described by the newspaper as the lowest for a president approaching midterm elections since Harry Truman’s 33 percent in 1946.
The Independent - Enten found Trump’s net approval on inflation fell from +8 points in 2024 to -45 points ahead of the midterm elections. He called the polling situation “a five-alarm Trumpster fire.”
The Independent - Wedgewood Research acknowledged producing fabricated polling numbers as a social experiment; The New York Times said it did not use the disputed polls to calculate Trump’s job approval rating.
The Independent - Trump said, “They did do some nice polls on me,” and added, “If CNN keeps doing those polls, I’ll like them more and more.”
WHERE:
Daily Kos - Trump’s campaign tour was described as visiting mostly Republican-leaning states.
The Independent - Trump’s interview was with The Washington Examiner’s Byron York.
WHY:
Daily Kos - Trump attributed a change in the election outlook to his rallies.
The Independent - Trump argued his support was closer to 60 percent, citing Republican and MAGA support.
HOW:
The Independent - Trump supported his claim by referring to Enten’s analysis of his support among MAGA Republicans.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 10:11 UTC)
President Trump rejected polling that shows weak approval, insisting his support is closer to 60 percent and crediting rallies with turning around the election outlook. In an interview with Washington Examiner columnist Byron York, Trump called the figures “fake” and cited his backing among Republicans and MAGA supporters. CNN analyst Harry Enten said Trump won 99 percent of the MAGA Republican vote in 2024 and had 98 percent approval among that group in September. But national surveys showed broader approval between 30 and 38.8 percent, with disapproval as high as 68 percent. Trump also dismissed figures showing his approval at 37 or 38 percent, saying, “I’m not at 38.” Enten reported Trump’s net approval on inflation fell from plus 8 points in 2024 to minus 45 ahead of the midterms. On the campaign trail, Trump named Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, and Alaska, but did not identify voters’ top issue.