President Donald Trump lied to congressional Republicans on Tuesday evening, falsely claiming his approval scores have elevated since his administration’s failure to launch authorities information on accused intercourse trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In actuality, Trump’s scores have tumbled because the scandal heated up final week.
“I have the best numbers I’ve ever had,” Trump stated throughout a White Home reception for Republicans. “, it’s superb I watch folks on tv: ‘Well, what about Donald Trump’s polling numbers?’ Yeah, they’re one of the best numbers I’ve ever had.
“And with this made-up hoax they’re talking about, my numbers have gone up 4 and 5 points—they want to do anything to get us off the subject of making America great again, and we’re not going to put up with it,” he continued.
It isn’t true. Polling has proven a noticeable Epstein-related dip for Trump and his dealing with of the story.
In 15 of the newest public opinion polls collected by The New York Occasions, Trump has a net-negative approval ranking in 14 of the polls, with most exhibiting a double-digit disapproval ranking on web.
The identical ballot additionally confirmed important public disapproval of how Trump has dealt with the Epstein case. Eighty-nine p.c of Individuals stated the Division of Justice ought to launch all of its info, a stance opposed by Legal professional Common Pam Bondi.
Activists in London put up a poster exhibiting President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, on July 17.
An amazing majority of independents (83%) and Democrats (92%) had been dissatisfied with how the administration has dealt with the Epstein case. In the meantime, Republicans had been virtually evenly break up: 50% had been happy with the administration’s dealing with of the case, whereas 49% weren’t.
The Trump administration can also be over 30 factors underwater on its dealing with of the Epstein investigations, based on an Economist/YouGov ballot launched on Tuesday. That discovering was corroborated by a Quinnipiac College ballot launched on July 16, through which 63% of voters disapproved of his administration’s dealing with of the case.
Trump’s lie highlights his desperation to blunt criticism on his ties to Epstein and his dealing with of the case, controversy that has ensnared his presidency for weeks. Congressional Republicans, who shut down Congress as an alternative of going through Epstein-related votes, are additionally feeling the fallout from the story, whereas Democrats proceed to push for additional disclosures.
Trump has now resorted to throwing out a number of distractions—conspiracies about former President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as an example—in an try to drown out Epstein-related headlines.
However it isn’t working, and his approval is nowhere close to “the best numbers” he’s ever had.
