Trump says 'polls are rigged' and repeats 'hottest country' comment on Truth Social

Donald Trump has doubled down on his claim of the United States being a "hotter" country as he claims approval rating polls "are rigged".

The president made a late night Truth Social post claiming he had actually received an approval rating of 64%, rather than the already high 50% on a graphic posted by Trump. The graphic, which reads, "Over 50% of voters approve of President Trump," comes from The Trafalgar Group, an opinion polling agency which has received criticism for inaccurate methodology in the past.

Trump took to Truth Social with a photo of the graphic, and wrote, "The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64%, and why not, our Country is “hotter” than ever before. Isn’t it nice to have a STRONG BORDER, No Inflation, a powerful Military, and great Economy??? Happy New Year!"

A claim that the US is the "hottest country" had been issued by Trump in a pre-Christmas address to the nation.

The address, which was roundly criticised by political commentators, saw the president claim he saved the "ready to fail" country from the Biden administration. He said, "Our country was ready to fail, totally fail. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world."

Elsewhere in the speech, Trump said, "We’re bringing our economy back from the brink of ruin." Trump's approval rating has seen some all-time low numbers for the president, despite his flaunting of The Trafalgar Group's polling figures.

CNN data analyst Harry Enten showed that Trump's support among independents had plummeted just a year into his second term.

According to the new data, Trump’s net approval rating among independent voters fell by a stunning 42 points from January to December, from -1 to -43, a drop so severe that Enten compared the president to French oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, known for his undersea expeditions.

“We're talking about 43 points underwater come December, that is a decline of 42 points on his net approval rating!” Enten said. “Donald Trump is hanging out with Jacques Cousteau; that is how far underwater Donald Trump is with independents at this point!”