President Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted. The 79-year-old’s net approval rating is -15%, with 41% approving of him, 56% disapproving, 5% not sure, The Economist reported using data from YouGov. Although the 79-year-old’s numbers are up slightly, about 2.2 points, since last week, his disapproval among black voters is still troubling. It comes as Trump posted a disturbing AI-generated video depicting Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as monkeys.
Former President Barack Obama speaks with Donald Trump (AP)What did Trump post about Obama?On his Truth social profile, Trump posted a one-minute video promoting conspiracies about his 2020 election loss. The Obamas were shown their faces on the monkey’s body for about a second. The song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” plays in the background as the former first couple appear.
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The clip repeats false allegations that ballot-counting company Dominion Voting Systems helped steal the 2020 election from Trump and hand it to Joe Biden, who was Obama’s vice president at the time.
Trump’s video sparked outrageThe video was condemned by Democrats and several social media users. “Disgusting behavior by the president. Every Republican must condemn it. Now,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office posted on the X account, formerly known as Twitter.
Ben Rhodes, a former top national security adviser, tweeted: “May it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will take Obama as a beloved figure while studying it as a stain on our history.”
“How can Trump and Maga claim they’re not racist… when Trump posts this racist shit on Truth Social? Trump is a piece of racist. So are his supporters,” wrote one social media user.
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The White House responded to the criticismThe White House quickly came to Trump’s defense. “This is from an Internet meme video that portrays President Trump as the King of the Jungle and the Democrats as The Lion King,” press secretary Carolyn Levitt said in a statement to AFP.
“Please stop the fake outrage and report today on something that actually matters to the American public,” he added.
Trump’s approval ratingQuinnipiac University (January 29 – February 2)Exclude +19
37% approve / 56% disapprove
YouGov / The Economist (January 30 – February 2)Exclude +14
40% approve / 54% disapprove
Navigator Research (January 29 – February 1)Cancel +15
41% approve / 56% disapprove
Morning Consultation (January 30 – February 1)Reject +8
45% approve / 53% disapprove
Insider Advantage (January 31 – February 1)+1 approve
50% approve / 49% disapprove
ActiVote (January 1 – 31)Reject +9
44% approve / 53% disapprove
Marist University (January 27 – 30)Cancel +17
39% approve / 56% disapprove
NPR / PBS News / Public Policy Polling (January 29 – 30)Cancel +17
39% approve / 56% disapprove
TIPP Insights / Issues and Insights (January 27 – 29)
+11 disagree
40% approve / 51% disapprove
HarrisX / Harris Poll (January 28 – 29)Reject +6
45% approve / 51% disapprove
Harvard CAPS (January 28 – 29)Reject +6
45% approve / 51% disapprove
Marquette University Law School (January 21 – 28)Cancel +16
42% approve / 58% disapprove
RMG Research / Neapolitan News Service (January 21 – 28)Cancel +3
48% approve / 51% disapprove
The Argument / Veracity (January 26 – 27)Cancel +15
42% approve / 57% disapprove
Pew Research Center (January 20 – 26)Exclude +24
37% approve / 61% disapprove
Echelon Insights (January 22 – 26)Cancel +16
41% approve / 57% disapprove
