A Washington Post-ABC News survey last week revealed just 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while a New York Times poll put that figure at 42%.

More than 40% of Americans “disapprove strongly” of Trump, The Post found.

“Great Pollster John McLaughlin, one of the most highly respected in the industry, has just stated that The Failing New York Times Poll, and the ABC/Washington Post Poll…are FAKE POLLS FROM FAKE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

McLaughlin is a close supporter of the president and a Republican researcher who has consistently published survey results favourable to Trump.

The president, who has long seen the mainstream press as an enemy, accused pollsters and news organisations of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome”.

“These people should be investigated for ELECTION FRAUD, and add in the FoxNews Pollster while you’re at it,” he said.

With the exception of Bill Clinton and now Trump, US presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan have had an approval rating topping 50% after their first 100 days in office, according to the Pew Research Center.

Trump has come racing out of the gates in his second term in office, slashing government agencies, launching trade wars with friends and foes alike and even taking on the judiciary over his immigration crackdown.

While the opinion polls reflect a growing mistrust of White House economic policy, the pessimism appears yet to reach Trump’s core base of supporters, whose adulation of the president largely has remained strong through thick and thin.

Polls have pointed out that the low ratings for Trump, ever the divider who plays to his strengths, are essentially on par with those in 2017, at the same time in his first term.

In today’s hyper-divided political America, 70% of Republican voters and Republican-leaning independents still support Trump’s tariff hikes, while 90% of Democrats oppose them, according to Pew.