Mike Johnson’s Bold Claim About Trump’s Popularity Sparks Fact Check

House Speaker Mike Johnson made headlines during a recent appearance on CNBC by claiming, “Trump’s approval ratings are skyrocketing… CNN just said he’s at 90 percent!” The comment lit up social media—but how true is it?

Turns out, not very.

CNN’s actual poll, released July 17, shows that only 42% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, with just 37% believing he’s focused on the right issues. Other polls echoed similar results: Reuters/Ipsos found a 41% approval, while The Economist/YouGov reported a 55% disapproval rating.

So where did Johnson get 90%? MSNBC suggests he was likely referring to Republican approval only—CNN noted that 88% of GOP voters support Trump, a figure Johnson may have “rounded up.”

While Johnson painted Trump as historically popular, the data says otherwise. In fact, Trump holds the lowest 100-day approval rating in modern presidential history, matching his 2017 rating—42%.

For perspective, the highest approval ratings go to Bill Clinton (66%), Ronald Reagan (63%), and Barack Obama (59%). At the bottom? Richard Nixon, with a dismal 24%.

Despite bold rhetoric from allies, Trump’s numbers remain polarized—not soaring, but steady among his base.