Fact-Check: Trump’s Claims on Ratings and Prices Don’t Match Data
President Donald Trump recently asserted that he has “the highest ratings ever,” that the U.S. economy is the “greatest in history,” and that prices are “falling.” A review of current polling and inflation data shows significant gaps between those statements and measurable reality.
Approval ratings: not a record high
Recent national tracking places job approval in the high 30s with disapproval in the high 50s—near cycle lows for the second term, not record highs. While single polls can swing, the broader trend points to weakened support rather than a new peak. Historical comparisons to prior presidencies also do not support a superlative like “highest ever.”
Prices: inflation has cooled, but levels aren’t falling
Headline consumer prices continue to increase on both monthly and year-over-year bases, even as inflation has slowed from prior peaks. Some categories (e.g., selected goods) have eased, but the overall basket is not declining. Describing prices broadly as “falling” misrepresents the data: the pace of growth is cooler, yet still positive.
“Greatest economy in history”: a subjective claim
Economic conditions remain mixed: steady output and resilient hiring alongside softer forward sentiment and cautious corporate investment. Late-cycle dynamics—slowing manufacturing momentum, tighter financial conditions—do not square with an unequivocal “greatest ever” label. Superlatives mask the nuance policymakers themselves emphasize.
Tariff impacts: reading the research correctly
Independent modeling of current tariff policy finds meaningful, long-run costs for households and growth. For a typical middle-income family, lifetime income losses accumulate over decades via higher import prices and second-order effects. The takeaway is straightforward: protectionism carries a measurable price tag that public statements often understate.
Why accurate framing matters
Markets and policy choices depend on clear signals. Overstating approval or mischaracterizing inflation risks distorting expectations for rates, growth, and household finances. In a data-driven environment, credibility hinges on matching rhetoric to the record.
Bottom line
Available polling does not show record-high presidential ratings; official inflation readings show prices still rising, albeit more slowly; and independent tariff analyses point to long-run household costs. The numbers tell a more complex story than podium-friendly superlatives.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab