Just a few hours after listening to heartfelt eulogies from family and friends about George H.W. Bush’s integrity and compassion, Donald Trump reminded the world that things were looking good for him. That is, at least according to his preferred polling outlet.
At 10:32 pm, Trump tweeted a graphic noting that he has a 50 percent approval rating. The source, listed in considerably smaller text in the photo, was Rasmussen Reports, a polling outlet that has often painted a friendlier outlook of Trump and his performance. Rasmussen leans conservative, as the polling outlet only surveys people with landlines, not cell phones, and those people tend to be older and rural, and well, conservative.
The truth? Trump’s approval rating is more likely to be somewhere between 39 percent and 43 percent [1], according to recent polls from several different outlets conducted this month.
“Working hard, thank you!” Trump tweeted.
Working hard, thank you! pic.twitter.com/3SoWTkZjP6 [2]
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2018 [3]
Although it’s not unusual for Trump to tweet about his higher-than-average polling numbers from Rasmussen, the timing of the tweet was peculiar, specifically on the day of Bush’s state funeral in which the president looked incredibly uncomfortable surrounded by all his living predecessors for the first time.
The message also came after the themes presented in the eulogies for the 41st president — “His life code was: ‘Tell the truth. Don’t blame people. Be strong. Do your best. Try hard. Forgive. Stay the course,’ ” remembered Bush biographer Jon Meacham — offered something of a jarring contrast to Trump and his presidency.
Twitter quickly hit back:
So Trump goes to Bush Sr.'s funeral, fidgets and scowls and makes everyone uncomfortable and can't even bother to read the Apostle's Creed like everyone else, then comes home and tweets about his approval rating. Asshole.
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 6, 2018 [4]
Feeling insecure after witnessing the love for and among all our living ex-presidents… https://t.co/I0OpENPn6r [5]
— Mary Stewart (@marykstu) December 6, 2018 [6]
He's back at it, and SCREAMING "LOOK AT ME". The numbers? Fake. https://t.co/c1msdaPvp5 [7]
— CindyCo (@CindyCo) December 6, 2018 [8]
Wow you just never stop making ???? up do you? Everybody hates you. Everybody. You're probably the most universally despised person in the entire world. Your cult doesn't count. You must need an ego boost after the funeral today because everyone hates you. https://t.co/tEbvV5Fpyd [9]
— rabidwvufan???? (@AmyAyers16) December 6, 2018 [10]
Here is what you MEANT to say: “Today I was moved by the eulogies for an honorable man who served his country. I was honored to sit with my predecessors. I WILL strive to match the service, integrity & accomplishments of those who served before me.”
— Donna Dugas (@dugas_donna) December 6, 2018 [11]
Enough about Bush. What about me? Trump brags about his approval rating hours after Bush’s funeral. A guy can only take so much when public attention wanders elsewhere. https://t.co/gEQcQPYVsY [12]
— Terry Mackin (@tcmackin) December 6, 2018 [13]