Trump claims base is bigger 'than ever before.' Polls suggest otherwise.
The president marked his 200th day in office much like any other: watching television and attacking the media on Twitter.
“The failing @nytimes, which has made every wrong prediction about me including my big election win (apologized), is totally inept!” Trump tweeted on Monday. The New York Times did not apologize for its Trump coverage.
The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling). Look at rallies in Penn, Iowa, Ohio…….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
Trump claimed that despite polls indicating some of his core supporters may be growing restless, his base is “far bigger” and “stronger than ever before.” The president offered recent campaign rallies in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio and West Virginia as proof.
The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling). Look at rallies in Penn, Iowa, Ohio…….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
…and West Virginia. The fact is the Fake News Russian collusion story, record Stock Market, border security, military strength, jobs…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
… Supreme Court pick, economic enthusiasm, deregulation & so much more have driven the Trump base even closer together. Will never change!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
“Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!” the president added.
Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released last week, just 33 percent of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing as president. The survey also showed that only 43 percent of whites without a college degree — a key voting group for Trump — approve, compared to 50 percent who disapprove.
Meanwhile, Trump’s job approval among Republican voters has dipped to 79 percent, the Quinnipiac poll found. And optimism among whites without a college degree is down more than 20 points since November. Gallup’s daily tracking poll has shown similar dips.
According to a recent poll by GOP public affairs firm Firehouse Strategies published by Axios, Trump’s support among his base is “dangerously low” — especially in the key swing states of Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway even conceded Sunday that Trump’s support among his core voters has fallen.
“His approval rating among Republicans and conservatives and Trump voters is down slightly,” she said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.”
Conway continued: “It needs to go up. They are telling him just enact your program. Don’t worry about a Congress that isn’t supporting legislation to get big-ticket items done. And don’t worry about all the distractions and diversions and discouragement that others, who are trying to throw logs in your path, are throwing your way.”
Trump’s early-morning tweets were sent from his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., where the commander in chief is spending most of the next two weeks while the White House undergoes renovations. The president insists he is “working hard” and not at all on vacation.
Working hard from New Jersey while White House goes through long planned renovation. Going to New York next week for more meetings.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2017
The president also lashed out at Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., after the lawmaker was on CNN saying special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia “must be pursued.”
“Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist!” Trump tweeted.
“Never in U.S. history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal,” Trump continued. “He told stories about his Vietnam battles and ……. conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion?”
In 2010, Blumenthal apologized for repeatedly claiming he had served in Vietnam after the New York Times reported he obtained at least five military deferments between 1965 and 1970 to avoid going to war.
“On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service, and I regret that,” Blumenthal said at the time. “I take full responsibility, but I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of military service.”
Trump avoided the draft by receiving five deferments, including one for what he described as bone spurs in his heels.
Blumenthal responded in a pair of tweets.
“Mr. President: Your bullying hasn’t worked before and it won’t work now,” Blumenthal wrote. “No one is above the law.”
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