In a recent CNBC interview, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson drew attention by stating that former President Donald Trump holds a “90 percent approval rating.” The comment quickly made waves, especially among Trump supporters, but national polling data tells a more complex story.

According to a CNN poll released on July 17, 42 percent of Americans say they support Trump, while only 37 percent believe he sets the right goals for the country—an important indicator of public confidence in his leadership. A Reuters/Ipsos survey similarly placed approval for Trump’s policies at 41 percent among registered voters. Meanwhile, The Economist/YouGov reported a 55 percent disapproval rating. Even Rasmussen Reports, which often shows more favorable numbers for Republicans, placed Trump’s approval among likely voters at 50 percent—far from the 90 percent cited by Johnson.

A closer look at the CNN data reveals that 88 percent of self-identified Republicans said they approve of Trump. Johnson appears to have rounded that number up to 90 percent and presented it as a national metric. While the figure is accurate within the Republican Party, applying it to the general public is misleading. It overlooks the sharp political divide that shapes Trump’s national approval and gives the impression of broader support than the data shows.

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