A recent survey has called into question House Speaker Mike Johnson’s assertion that Donald Trump holds a 90% approval rating.  

During a recent appearance on CNBC, Mike Johnson praised the former President, stating, “His approval ratings are skyrocketing.” Johnson went on to claim, “CNN had a story a day or two ago—he was at a 90% approval rating! There’s never been a president that high.”

However, a CNN article from July 17 presented a recent poll showing that only 42% of Americans support Trump, with 37% believing he has the correct priorities.

Other polls have also shown lower numbers. A Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 41% of U.S. voters approve of Trump's administration. Additionally, a poll by The Economist revealed that more than half (55%) of respondents disapprove of the former President.

The most favorable recent poll for Trump, conducted by Rasmussen Reports on July 18, showed half of Americans approve of him.

This raises the question: Where did Johnson get the 90% figure? According to MSNBC, the House Speaker seems to have focused solely on Republican sentiment toward Trump. The CNN poll Johnson referred to actually showed that 88% of Republicans approve of the former President, a number Johnson likely rounded up to 90%.

While the Trump administration may believe he is one of the most popular figures in American politics, historical data shows others have had higher approval ratings. According to AZ Central, Bill Clinton reached a 66% approval rating during his presidency. Ronald Reagan had a 63% rating, and Barack Obama peaked at 59%.

The lowest approval rating on record belongs to Richard Nixon, who fell to 24%. It's worth noting that while Nixon’s overall ratings were high, Trump’s approval rating after his first 100 days in office was lower than any other president in the past 60 years.

Interestingly, Americans’ opinions of Trump during his first term appear to be consistent with his current numbers. A comparison from last month showed that 42% of participants approved of Trump after his first 100 days in 2017, which is identical to CNN's recent findings.