Trump’s high GOP approval is not unusual, says Gallup editor-in-chief

Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport said on Monday that President Trump’s high approval rating among Republicans is not unusual.

“Most Republican presidents since Eisenhower have had at one point or another in their administration’s approval in our Gallup polls at 90 percent or higher,” Newport told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha on “What America’s Thinking.”

He added that Gerald Ford is an exception to the findings because he was president a short period of time. 

“So that’s not highly unusual, but it is very high, and that’s one place where Trump when he sometimes incorrectly talks about polls is correct. He does get high support among Republicans,” he said. 

The president’s approval rating among Republicans is currently at 85 percent, according to Gallup.

Former President George W. Bush’s approval rating among Republicans was as high as 90 percent in 2005, according to Gallup, while the poll had President George H.W. Bush at 97 percent in 1991. During his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s approval among Republicans was usually above 80 percent in Gallup’s surveys.

Trump, who has hit the campaign trail for GOP midterm candidates, frequently boasts about his high approval among members of his party. 

“Over 90% approval rating for your all-time favorite (I hope) President within the Republican Party and 52% overall. This despite all of the made up stories by the Fake News Media trying endlessly to make me look as bad and evil as possible. Look at the real villains please!” Trump tweeted last month, misstating his overall approval rating at the time, which was at 44 percent. 

Over 90% approval rating for your all time favorite (I hope) President within the Republican Party and 52% overall. This despite all of the made up stories by the Fake News Media trying endlessly to make me look as bad and evil as possible. Look at the real villains please!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2018

— Julia Manchester