President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted. The 79-year-old has a net approval rating of -15%, with 41% supporting him, 56% opposing and 5% unsure, The Economist reported using YouGov data. Although the 79-year-old’s approval rating has increased slightly by about 2.2 percentage points since last week, dissatisfaction with him among black voters remains a concern. Meanwhile, Trump released a disturbing AI-generated video depicting Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as monkeys.
What has Trump posted about the Obamas?
Trump posted a minute-long video to his Truth Social profile promoting conspiracies about his 2020 election defeat. The Obamas’ faces appear on the monkeys for about a second. As the former first couple appeared, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” blared in the background.
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The clip repeated false claims that vote-counting company Dominion Voting Systems helped steal the 2020 election from Trump and hand the victory to then-Obama Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump video sparks outrage
The video was slammed by Democrats and some social media users. “The president’s actions were abhorrent. Every Republican must condemn this. Now,” California Governor Gavin Newsom posted to his press office account on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Former national security adviser Ben Rhodes tweeted: “Let it bother Trump and his racist followers that future generations of Americans will see the Obamas as beloved figures while viewing him as a blemish on our history.”
“How can Trump and MAGA claim they are not racist… when Trump posts racist shit like this on Truth Social? Trump is a total racist. So are his supporters,” one social media user wrote.
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White House responds to criticism
The White House was quick to defend Trump. “This is an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the king of the jungle and Democrats as characters from ‘The Lion King,'” press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said in a statement to AFP.
“Please stop the false outrage and report on what really matters to the American public today,” she added.
Trump’s approval rating
Quinnipiac University (January 29-February 2)
Disapprove +19
37% agree/56% disagree
YouGov / The Economist (January 30 to February 2)
Disapprove +14
40% agree/54% disagree
Navigator Research (January 29 to February 1)
Disapprove +15
41% agree/56% disagree
Morning consultation (January 30 to February 1)
Disagree +8
45% agree/53% disagree
InsiderAdvantage (January 31 – February 1)
Approval +1
50% agree/49% disagree
ActiVote (January 1-31)
Disagree +9
44% agree/53% disagree
Marist University (January 27-30)
Disapprove+17
39% agree/56% disagree
NPR/PBS News/Public Policy Polling (January 29-30)
Disapprove+17
39% agree/56% disagree
TIPP Insights/Questions & Insights (January 27-29)
Disagree +11
40% agree/51% disagree
HarrisX/Harris Poll (January 28-29)
Disagree +6
45% agree/51% disagree
Harvard CAPS (January 28-29)
Disapprove +6
45% agree/51% disagree
Marquette University School of Law (January 21-28)
Disapprove +16
42% agree/58% disagree
RMG Research/Naples Press (January 21-28)
Disapprove +3
48% agree/51% disagree
Controversy/Verasight (January 26-27)
Disapprove +15
42% agree/57% disagree
Pew Research Center (January 20-26)
Disapprove+24
37% agree/61% disagree
Echelon Insights (January 22-26)
Disagree +16
41% agree/57% disagree
