President Donald Trump responded Monday to a string of recent polls showing his approval ratings sagging with an explanation that some political observers described as unusual in tone and framing: he suggested much of his backing is “silent” and therefore not captured by traditional surveys..
Speaking at the White House at an event honoring families of Americans killed by immigrants, Trump said, “We actually have silent support. I think it’s silent. I think that’s how I won.” He added that polling often fails to reflect what he described as enthusiasm beneath the surface, reiterating a theme he has raised in past election cycles.
The remarks came as multiple surveys pointed to growing public concerns about his leadership. A The Washington Post–ABC News/Ipsos poll released Monday found 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, with nearly half registering strong disapproval. Around the same time, a CNN poll reported that 32% of Americans believe Trump has had the right priorities, while a majority said he has not focused enough on the country’s most pressing concerns.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey released Tuesday found 61% of Americans said Trump had “become erratic with age,” a characterization that included roughly 30% of Republican respondents. Independents and Democrats were more likely to agree with that description, according to the poll.
Trump, however, pushed back on the broader narrative suggested by those numbers. “The only poll that matters is Election Day,” he said, echoing a line he has used repeatedly when disputing unfavorable data. He also questioned polling methodology more generally, arguing that some surveys “oversample Democrats” and fail to account for voters reluctant to publicly express support.
During the same White House event, Trump praised his Homeland Security team, singling out Secretary Kristi Noem and border official Tom Homan, saying they had done “incredible” work despite sustained criticism over immigration enforcement. He also returned to economic messaging, stating that he had built “the greatest economy in the world,” even as polling indicates persistent voter concerns over inflation and cost of living.
These polling trends arrive against a backdrop of political milestones and shifting perceptions. Republicans are preparing for the midterm elections, where Trump’s standing among independents — a group critical to competitive districts — has shown notable weakness in some surveys.
Critics and allies alike have pointed to the declining numbers as potential headaches for GOP candidates nationwide, even as the White House frames its messaging on economic achievements and immigration policy ahead of the upcoming State of the Union address.
Media dynamics also feature in the administration’s reactions. Trump complained during his remarks that the media has not fairly covered his accomplishments or the stories of families affected by crime linked to immigration, calling coverage that omits those angles “shocking” and attributing part of his polling challenge to such coverage.
Polling experts frequently caution that surveys represent snapshots in time, subject to margins of error and methodological variation. Still, the convergence of multiple independent polls showing elevated disapproval provides context for Trump’s insistence that unseen “silent support” exists beyond what is captured in public data.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
