Mike Johnson recently made headlines during a CNBC News appearance where he enthusiastically praised former President Donald Trump, claiming his approval ratings were soaring. Johnson specifically cited a figure from CNN, stating that Trump’s approval had reached 90 percent—an unprecedented high for any U.S. president, according to his remarks.

However, this claim was immediately contradicted by the actual CNN poll released on July 17. The survey indicated that only 42 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s performance, and just 37 percent believed he was focusing on the right issues. These figures reflect a consistent trend found in other polls, revealing a more nuanced public perception than Johnson suggested.

Further polling from reputable sources paints a clearer picture. A Reuters/Ipsos survey reported a 41 percent approval rating for Trump, while The Economist/YouGov poll showed 55 percent of respondents disapproved of his performance. The highest approval rating among recent polls came from Rasmussen Reports, which found Trump at 50 percent—still far from the 90 percent Johnson mentioned.

The discrepancy in Johnson’s statement likely stems from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of party-specific approval. CNN’s data shows that 88 percent of Republicans support Trump, a number Johnson may have rounded up to 90 percent and mistakenly presented as general approval. MSNBC pointed out that he may have been referring only to Republican support levels, not national sentiment.

Historically, Trump’s popularity falls short of other presidents. Bill Clinton holds the highest approval peak at 66 percent, followed by Reagan and Obama. Meanwhile, Trump maintains the lowest 100-day approval rating in the last 60 years, matching the 42 percent he currently holds.