Trump says his poll numbers are higher than Lincoln’s – but polling didn’t exist then
President Trump on Sunday claimed his poll numbers are higher than “Honest Abe Lincoln” despite the fact that presidential polling didn’t begin until 1936.
“Wow, highest Poll Numbers in the history of the Republican Party. That includes Honest Abe Lincoln and Ronald Reagan,” Trump posted on his Twitter account. “There must be something wrong, please recheck that poll!”
It’s unclear which survey he was referring to, but Gallup became the first company to poll a presidential election in 1936.
In a survey released last month, it found Trump’s approval rate was at 42 percent and his disapproval rate at 54 percent.
Comparing Ronald Reagan’s numbers at the same point in his presidency, Gallup found Reagan’s approval rating also at 42 percent.
Among other Republican presidents in July of their second year, George W. Bush had a 72 percent approval rating and George H.W. Bush had a 62 percent approval mark.
But Republicans gave Trump an 88 percent approval rating, compared to 9 percent among Democrats.