Trump Claims His Low Approval Ratings Are Fake

Trump Disputes Polling Data in TIME Interview

United States President Donald Trump dismissed his historically low approval ratings as fabricated in an interview with TIME magazine published on October 1. Trump's approval rating had fallen to 32 percent on September 21 - the lowest recorded throughout his political career - but he insisted the polls were unreliable. "Those are fake numbers. I would beat any of today's candidates by 20 points. Your numbers are fake. Pollsters are corrupt. They're almost as corrupt as journalists," Trump told the magazine. The president cited economic growth and a surge in manufacturing jobs as proof of his administration's success, pointing to Pfizer, Merck, and Eli Lilly returning production to American soil.

"Everyone said you'd never have manufacturing jobs. We have more manufacturing jobs than ever in this country's history," Trump said, describing a wave of factory construction he attributed to his policies.

Record-Low Approval and Iran War Context

Trump's approval decline follows several months of turbulence. A Financial Times survey had previously registered a record low, and the September 21 figure confirmed the continuing slide. Despite the numbers, Trump showed no sign of changing course, separately stating that he does not regret launching the war against Iran, even as aides warned the conflict could damage Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm congressional elections.