President Trump had some words for CNN on Monday, and none of them were flattering. As he was leaving the White House headed to Nebraska for a midterm rally, CNN Senior White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes stepped up and asked him about his polling numbers with Latino voters, citing a survey claiming only 27% of Latinos approve of him.
Trump was not having it. You’re CNN, you’re fake news,” he told Holmes, waving off the poll entirely and pointing to something he trusts a lot more than network surveys. “My poll numbers are great, and all you have to do is look at the crowds we’re drawing. And every time I leave, that candidate will be losing, and by the time I leave, they’re winning.”
He wasn’t done. “No, CNN poll numbers are fake, and your whole outfit is fake, and so are you,” Trump added. Short, simple, and straight to the point. You have to respect the economy of words.
The poll in question came from NBC and Telemundo, which reported that Trump’s approval among Latinos had “plunged” to 27%, blaming concerns over immigration enforcement and the cost of living. According to NBC, two-thirds of respondents said his deportation policies have gone too far, and three-quarters disapprove of how he’s handled the economy. CNN was happy to run with those numbers. Trump was happy to tell them exactly what he thought about that, and you can check out Trump’s confrontation with CNN for yourself.
This is all happening while CNN and Politico are actively suing the Trump administration after he booted them from the White House press pool last month. Trump later banned both outlets from Air Force One as well. The networks are now asking U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly for a preliminary injunction to restore their access while the case plays out. Judge Kelly had already granted a temporary restraining order putting them back on White House grounds, so the legal fight is very much ongoing.
Meanwhile, Trump has kept the pressure on CNN at every turn. Last week the White House dropped a video compilation of Trump going after CNN and anchor Kaitlan Collins across his press conferences over the past year and a half. Then at a rally Saturday, Trump went off on CNN and Collins again, drawing thunderous boos from the crowd along with chants of “fake news” and considerably less printable things directed at the network.
So what happens next? CNN will keep showing up with polls, Trump will keep calling them fake, and the lawyers will keep billing by the hour. Drop a comment below and tell us whether you trust the crowd sizes or the network surveys more.
Watch Trump’s video on our YouTube channel:
