Trump sends cease and desist letter to CNN after they released a poll that he 'felt' was 'fake'


President Trump just can't let this one go.
Trump's campaign is demanding CNN retract a brutal recent poll showing the president getting trounced by presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, sending a cease and desist letter to the network's president, Jeff Zucker, CNN reports.
The poll, which was conducted by SSRS, showed Biden beating Trump by 14 points among registered voters, and it also showed the president's approval rating dropping to 38 percent. Trump in response declared he had retained the pollster McLaughlin & Associates to "analyze" the poll from CNN and others that "I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving." This news comes after Gallup showed Trump's approval rating fell 10 percent in one month.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The letter to CNN accuses the network of trying to "mislead American voters through a biased questionnaire and skewed sampling," claiming they released a "phony poll to cause voter suppression." CNN reports the letter "makes several incorrect and misleading claims," including taking issue with it being conducted before the May jobs report's release despite it being conducted up through the day it came out. The campaign also takes issue with the percentage of Republicans it surveyed, but CNN says this was consistent with other polls.
Needless to say, CNN has no plans to retract the poll, with a network spokesperson saying "we stand by" it and CNN writing that the letter to Zucker was "immediately rejected."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Court slams Trump, senator visits Ábrego García
Speed Read The case 'should be shocking not only to judges' but all Americans with an 'intuitive sense of liberty'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Today's political cartoons - April 18, 2025
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - El Salvador, political fundraising, and more
By The Week US
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A sea of kites, a game of sand hockey, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US