Trump erupts over 'worst' opinion polls and lashes out at media as approval ratings plummet

'It was a Fake Poll by two very bad and dangerous media outlets. Sad!'

Donald Trump slammed ABC and Washington Post as “two very bad and dangerous media outlets” after they released a joint-poll showing the president’s approval rating in decline and growing fears of an economic recession.

“ABC/Washington Post Poll was the worst and most inaccurate poll of any taken prior to the 2016 Election,” the president wrote in a tweet on Tuesday morning. “When my lawyers protested, they took a 12 point down and brought it to almost even by Election Day.”

“It was a Fake Poll by two very bad and dangerous media outlets,” he added. “Sad!”

The latest poll released by the two media outlets showed a six-point drop from the president’s record-high approval rating of 44 per cent — the highest he has achieved since taking office in 2016. The numbers have been historically low for a modern president, albeit remarkably consistent, usually holding somewhere steady in the high 30s or low 40s.

Mr Trump's approval rating has fallen somewhat amid a trade war the president has ignited with China and a summer of controversies involving world leaders and US officials staying at his private properties and exclusive resorts. The president also sparked swift backlash on Capitol Hill when he suggested hosting next year's G7 summit at his golf club in Florida.

The latest polling could also reflect growing concerns among the US public about the global economy, with 60 per cent of the country saying they believed a recession over the next year was “likely,” compared to 35 per cent who did not agree.

Six in 10 Americans also said they were concerned the “US-China trade dispute will raise prices”.

The president’s approval for his handling of the economy has also fell by 5 per cent since the middle of the summer to 46 per cent. Meanwhile, just 35 per cent of those surveyed said they approved of his handling of the trade dispute with Beijing.

A recent survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics showed 74 per cent of US busienss economists were “sufficiently concerned” about the president’s economic policies contributing to an oncoming recession by 2021.

Mr Trump has repeatedly shot down such concerns, saying last month, “I don’t think we’re having a recession.”

“We’re doing tremendously well,” he added. “Our consumers are rich. I gave a tremendous tax cut and they’re loaded up with money.”

The president has repeatedly attacked media outlets and polls he does not approve of, calling the developments "fake news" and often espousing unfounded claims.

“One of the greatest and most powerful weapons used by the Fake and Corrupt News Media is the phony Polling Information they put out,” he wrote in a follow-up tweet on Tuesday. “Many of these polls are fixed, or worked in such a way that a certain candidate will look good or bad. Internal polling looks great, the best ever!”