President Donald Trump lashed out at Fox News polls on Tuesday during the midterm election day, expressing his strong disapproval of the network's survey questions and dismissing their findings.
"The Fox News poll, always the worst, is so insulting because of the questions they ask. Every question is an attack and every answer is TRASH! This has been happening for years," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.
This outburst comes at a politically sensitive time for Trump, as Americans head to the polls to decide which party will control Congress during the final two years of his second term.
Although Trump didn't specify the particular poll that triggered his criticism, Fox News released a national survey on October 14 indicating his approval rating at just 36%, the lowest recorded by the network during both of his presidential terms.
The survey, conducted from October 9 to 12 among 1,202 registered voters with a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, also presented a challenging scenario for the Republicans.
According to the findings, 54% of respondents preferred the Democratic candidate in their district for the House of Representatives, compared to 45% who supported the Republican, a nine-point gap.
The poll further revealed that 74% viewed the country's economic situation negatively, while 66% expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the United States.
Another notable figure was that 47% of participants stated they were voting to express opposition to Trump, versus 25% who intended to vote to support the president.
The decline in Trump's popularity was also reflected in another October poll, which placed his approval at merely 33%, according to a joint study by Ipsos, The Washington Post, and ABC News.
Trump's clash with Fox News is particularly significant given it is a conservative-leaning network with a substantial Republican voter audience, though the president has repeatedly criticized its political coverage.
The controversy unfolds as the United States holds crucial elections for the future of Congress, seen as a test of public support for Trump's administration.
Understanding Trump's Criticism of Fox News Polls
Why is Trump critical of Fox News polls?
Trump criticizes Fox News polls because he finds the questions to be biased and the results to be inaccurate, often dismissing them as attacks on his administration.
What did the recent Fox News poll indicate about Trump's approval rating?
The recent Fox News poll showed Trump's approval rating at 36%, the lowest during his presidency according to the network's records.
How do Trump's criticisms of Fox News affect the Republican base?
Trump's criticisms may influence the Republican base by potentially creating skepticism about the credibility of Fox News coverage, despite its conservative leaning.