U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders during a brief event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
President Donald Trump started his Thursday by bragging about his crowd sizes and his standing with fellow Republicans, and critics weren’t buying either claim.
“We are drawing the BIGGEST CROWDS at Trump Rallies in the history of Midterm Elections, by a factor of five times. There has never been anything like it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “My Approval Rating in the Republican Party is now at 99%. Thank you, such an honor!!!”
Trump also plugged his rally later in the day for Darline Graham, the wife of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is running in South Carolina. “She is fantastic. Lindsey is watching, and very proud of her!!!” he wrote.
Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark and a longtime anti-Trump Republican strategist, responded in all caps: “SOMEONE PUT HIM IN A HOME AND FEED HIM PUDDING.”
The anti-Trump group Republicans Against Trump offered a fact check.
“Trump holds rallies in small arenas, and even then, plenty of seats are empty,” the group wrote. “A Fox News poll from last week puts Trump’s approval rating among Republicans at just 76%, nowhere near the 99% he claims.”
The account of influencer Mario Nawfal, which usually leans friendly toward Trump, also didn’t bite.
“Do you think he’ll one day realize that no one gives two s---- about his crowd sizes or approval rating?” the post read. “We can’t afford food or gas, but congrats on the crowds!”
Trump’s overall approval among registered voters sits at 33% in the latest Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. Reuters has reported that some of his recent rallies drew rows of empty seats.
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