Republican election deniers are dismissing poor midterm polling as a 'psyop' designed to depress conservative turnout, echoing President Trump's repeated claims that polls are fake. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, made that argument on Fox News, and prominent MAGA influencers have amplified it to millions of followers.
These dismissals come as multiple surveys show Trump's approval at historic lows and Democrats leading in Senate races, including states Trump won easily in 2024. Reuters reported that Republicans are now pouring money into dozens of races they had considered safe, and a longtime Trumpworld operative told WIRED that "we're going to get creamed."
While some in the election denial community insist the polls are fabricated, the source notes that a top commenter on one influencer's post pointed out that the influencer has repeatedly shared polls favorable to Trump, undercutting the claim that all polling is fake. The source also contrasts private worry among White House aides with the public dismissal by election deniers.