Donald Trump seemed delighted on Thursday when he posted a screen-shot from Lou Dobbs‘ Fox Business show supposedly showing his approval polling is at 55%.
There’s just one problem though.
The number is way off, and his actual approval rating according to that poll is a paltry 43%.
The Fox Business host spent a good portion of his show repeatedly fawning over a new poll from the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service on Trump and the economy.
Dobbs framed the poll’s findings with the graphic above, saying Trump enjoys “soaring approval” from 58% of voters for his performance on the economy, and an impressive 55% from voters overall.
Great news! #MAGA [1] pic.twitter.com/haZ1HbVpNu [2]
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2019 [3]
Here’s what the poll actually says:
While President Trump’s overall unfavorable rating has remained steady at 55 percent since he announced his candidacy in 2015, 58 percent of voters approve of the job he has done on the economy.
To be clear: Trump’s disapproval is 55%, according to that poll. His approval rating, meanwhile, is 43%. That means his numbers are underwater by 12%.
Mo Elleithee, director of Georgetown Politics and a frequent Fox News guest, corrected the president on Twitter:
I’m the Director of @GUPolitics [4] & this graphic is incorrect.
The Battleground Poll shows 58% approval on the economy.
But it shows only 43% overall approval, & 52% disapproval.
The 55% number is the President’s unfavorable rating. (Only 40% favorable.)https://t.co/a00b6ljiJl [5] https://t.co/nntXuHaUKj [6]
— Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) April 11, 2019 [7]
Twitter had a field day:
Do not be fooled by the incorrect Lou Dobbs graphic.
The poll conducted by Georgetown has President Trump at a 43% approval rating – NOT 55%.
Only 38% said he deserved reelection.
The Georgetown poll is public and can be verified, but his supporters are too lazy to do it. https://t.co/L2F2igBEFY [8]
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) April 11, 2019 [9]
Fake news for a fake president brought to you by state run media. Total misrepresentations of the poll.
Typical for everyone involved. https://t.co/VccguoEkgw [10]
— JP (@jjgarrey1995) April 11, 2019 [11]
TELLING EXAMPLE of Trump Propaganda:
– The poll actually shows 55% UNFAVORABLE rating
– FOX's Lou Dobbs changed it to 55% APPROVAL rating.
– Trump tweeted it as great news.
Welcome to how Trump's conspiracy-fueled propaganda partnerships work https://t.co/IMH2TfWi9i [12]
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) April 11, 2019 [13]
This stupid motherfucker…….
He tweeted out his unfavorable rating.PFFFFFBWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
The damn Director of Georgetown Politics himself had to fact check this bitch in real time.#DumbAss [14]#25thAmendmentNow [15] https://t.co/VtsyCzUszY [16]
— Christopher A Jackson (@UltimateBeing01) April 11, 2019 [17]