Maggie Haberman, a veteran reporter, said there is no public polling showing President Trump is popular, according to the outlet. Her comments came as Republicans prepare for their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas.
Haberman told journalists that Trump faces particular political difficulty over affordability, an issue that Republicans running in competitive districts may find difficult to defend.
Collins pointed to polling showing Trump performing poorly across a range of measures, with his numbers in some surveys worse than those of Republicans generally. Haberman acknowledged that public polling does not necessarily capture all private campaign data but drew a stark distinction.
There is no polling where this president is popular. Haberman added that Trump faces trouble on the issue of affordability, which has become one of the central themes of the 2026 election campaign.
A recent poll found that 57% of Americans opposed Trump’s recent increase in tariffs on Canadian imports, while only 20% supported the move.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Haberman personally and professionally. The latest confrontation came after Haberman reported on Trump’s plans for Sept. 11.
Trump responded by calling Haberman a “Fake Reporter” and accusing her of fabricating the story. He also called her a “SCAMMER” and “PHONY,” accused her of being a “stalker” and questioned the accuracy of her previous reporting.
Haberman is far from the only journalist who has become a target of Trump’s criticism. Trump has recently intensified his attacks on NBC’s Kristen Welker.
Related: Foreign Clinics Lure US Fertility Patients Abroad
Trump has also previously attacked Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey.
Haberman has criticized the changing structure of Trump’s White House press operation, saying that Trump effectively acts as his own communications director and press secretary.
Haberman’s comments come at a politically sensitive moment for the Republican Party, which is preparing for the November midterms while defending congressional majorities in an environment in which Trump’s approval ratings have become a potential liability for candidates in competitive districts.
The political problem extends beyond Trump’s personal approval rating, as Republicans must also contend with voters’ concerns about prices, trade policy, and the economic consequences of the administration’s decisions.
For Democrats, the political calculation is straightforward: if Trump remains unpopular, candidates can make the president himself a central issue in congressional races, focusing on issues like election campaign themes.
One potential consequence of Trump’s unpopularity is that Republican candidates may try to distance themselves from the president.
The situation is complex.
The outcome of the midterms will depend on a variety of factors, including the economy, trade policy, and the performance of individual candidates. For now, it’s clear that Trump’s popularity remains a major challenge for the Republican Party, and they must handle this issue carefully as they prepare for the upcoming election, where some candidates may consider solo ventures to distance themselves from the party.
