President Donald Trump has announced plans to escalate his ongoing legal battle with The New York Times, vowing to incorporate the newspaper’s latest opinion poll, which shows his job approval rating at just 40% one year into his second term — into his existing defamation lawsuit against the outlet.
In a series of posts on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump labelled the New York Times/Siena College poll as “fake” and “tremendously negative,” accusing the publication of bias and “Radical Left lies and wrongdoing.”
He claimed the survey’s methodology was skewed toward Democrats and demanded that the newspaper preserve all records related to its “computation.”
Trump further suggested that publishing “fake and fraudulent” polling should be treated as “virtually… a criminal offense,” insisting that the outlet and its collaborators “will be held fully responsible.”
The poll, released earlier on January 22, 2026, by The New York Times and Siena Research Institute, surveyed 1,625 registered voters nationwide from January 12 to 17.
It found that 40% approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 56% disapprove — a net rating of -16 points, down from 43% approval in a previous survey in September 2025.
The results paint a challenging picture of Trump’s first year back in the White House.
Only 32% of respondents said the country is better off now than it was a year ago, compared to 49% who believe it is worse off.
A majority (55% to 42%) described his first year as unsuccessful overall.
Voters cited dissatisfaction with his handling of key issues, including the economy (where approval mirrored his overall rating at 40%) and affordability, with 51% saying his policies have made life less affordable for them.
The survey also highlighted a reversal of demographic gains Trump made during his 2024 reelection campaign.
Support has eroded notably among young voters, non-white voters, and lower-turnout groups that had shifted toward him previously, returning to patterns more typical of his first term.
Trump’s threat fits a broader pattern of legal actions against media organizations perceived as critical.
He filed a high-profile defamation suit against The New York Times last year, initially seeking $15 billion and alleging that certain reporting and a related book (Lucky Loser by reporters Susanne Craig and Ross Buettner) damaged his reputation and business interests.
A federal judge previously dismissed an early version of the complaint for being overly lengthy and discursive, though Trump refiled it.
The New York Times has consistently defended its journalism as independent and fact-based.
In response to earlier suits, a spokesperson described such legal efforts as attempts to “stifle and discourage independent reporting.”
The Times/Siena poll is widely regarded as one of the most accurate in recent U.S. elections, having correctly captured shifts in voter sentiment leading up to 2024.
Other recent surveys, including from Emerson College (showing 43% approval) and various state-level trackers, have similarly indicated softening support for Trump ahead of the 2026 midterms, with independents particularly critical (only 34% approval in the latest Times/Siena data).
Trump’s response underscores his long-standing distrust of mainstream media polling, a stance he has maintained since his first presidency.
Critics view the latest threats as an attempt to intimidate outlets and shape public perception, while supporters see it as holding biased institutions accountable.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the poll’s findings — combined with Trump’s combative posture — could influence Republican strategy and voter turnout in key battleground states.
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