President Donald J. Trump is making another extraordinary claim about his political standing, saying that if he were running for president today, he believes he would win by 25 points. Trump made the statement during a WABC radio interview with former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, with whom he recently reconciled after years of bitter conflict.
Trump also declared that “the economy has never been stronger”, arguing that his administration is achieving economic numbers that he says have never been seen before.
Donald J. Trump Says “The Real Polls” Show Him Dominating
Asked about people continuing to discuss his political standing even though he is not eligible to seek another term under the constitutional two-term limit, Trump dismissed unfavorable polling and said he was performing strongly in what he called “the real polls.”
He then made the sweeping hypothetical prediction that he would win by 25 points if an election were held today. Trump offered no specific poll showing such a margin in the interview.
Recent national polling, meanwhile, shows a much more difficult political environment for the president. A Reuters/Ipsos survey reported Trump’s approval at 33%, with 64% disapproving, according to reporting published this week.
Donald J. Trump Also Declares the Economy Stronger Than Ever
Donald J. Trump’s economic claim is similarly emphatic. He said the economy has “never been stronger” and described the current period as a potential economic renaissance.
However, the latest economic indicators present a more mixed picture. Real GDP growth was reported at a 1.5% annualized rate in the second quarter, while inflation remained elevated and payroll employment weakened in July.
That does not mean the U.S. economy is necessarily in poor condition—but it does mean “the economy has never been stronger” is a political characterization, not an established economic fact.
Trump’s remarks ultimately underline the difference between his own assessment of his presidency and the picture emerging from independent polling and economic statistics.
For now, Trump says he’d win by 25 points.
The polls he cites remain unidentified.
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