Donald Trump defended his standing with voters in a recent television interview, saying, “I’m popular,” while new surveys show his approval and economic ratings in the 30s. The comments came during a conversation about the upcoming midterm elections.
Donald Trump quips he’s ‘popular’ in new interview
In a February 2026 interview with Fox Business Network’s Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump stated, “I’m popular, and I’ve done well,” and declared, “I think we have the greatest economy actually ever in history.” Trump made these remarks despite recent polling showing a significant decline in his approval ratings on the economy and overall performance (via Media ITE).
Trump’s approval rating currently stands at 39% according to an NBC News poll and 37% in The Economist/YouGov survey. A report from Silver Bulletin places his disapproval rating at -13.7, slightly improved from -14.6 a week prior. In comparison, former President Joe Biden held a rating of -12.2 at the same point in his presidency.
During the Kudlow interview, Trump referenced historic midterm losses, saying, “In 50 years, a president that won—even a popular president… they still lost.” He added, “We’re gonna change that. I hope. We’re trying very hard.” Kudlow had asked whether Republicans could avoid a “bloodbath” in the upcoming midterms and maintain control of both chambers.
Trump also said, “We inherited a country that was going to die… now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. That’s said by everybody.” He credited media appearances for helping his message reach the public, stating, “We have a fake news that doesn’t get the word out. That’s why I love doing an interview… we get the word out.”
Separately, Trump drew criticism after posting about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance, calling it “absolutely terrible” and saying, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting.” The post sparked backlash amid a backdrop of political unrest and cultural controversy involving the Trump camp.
