Donald Trump sparked a viral moment during a recent White House briefing after claiming he receives '93 to 97 per cent' negative media coverage and briefly turning that frustration into a joking jab at his own press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
In a further interesting note, he later pivoted into a broader attack on the American press, claiming that 'people don't believe in the press anymore' as a justification for his bad publicity.
Trump Throws Leavitt Under The Bus
During a routine press briefing on 31 March, Trump joined Leavitt and began touting his administration's record. Midway through his remarks, he shifted focus to media coverage, claiming the overwhelming majority of stories about him are negative.
Trump: I got 93% bad publicity. Some people say 97%. Maybe Karoline is doing a poor job. Should we keep her?
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 31, 2026
pic.twitter.com/W2PcgSnASP
'I got 93% bad publicity. Some people say 97,' he said, before adding that such numbers only reinforce his belief that the public has stopped trusting traditional media.
He then turned to Leavitt with a smile, saying, 'Maybe Karoline is doing a poor job, I don't know... you're doing a terrible job. Should we keep her? I think we'll keep her.'
The room responded with laughter, and Trump quickly moved on.
The Attack on the American Press
While the line about Leavitt drew attention online, Trump's main focus remained on his long-standing criticism of the press.
He argued that consistently negative coverage — which he did not attribute to any specific study — shows that 'people don't believe the media,' calling major outlets 'dishonest' and repeating his familiar 'fake press' refrain.
Trump also pointed to his political success as evidence that voters are not swayed by unfavourable headlines, framing the disconnect as proof of declining trust in journalism.
Context Behind the Comments
The moment came at the tail end of a briefing where Leavitt had been addressing reporters on administration policy and messaging.
Since taking on the role, she has served as a central voice for the administration, frequently pushing back on coverage she describes as misleading or unfair, a stance that closely aligns with Trump's broader communications strategy.
There is no indication that Trump's remark reflected any internal disagreement. He immediately softened the comment, and Leavitt has continued her duties without interruption.
Trump's Approval Ratings Remain Underwater
Trump's remarks come at a time when his national approval ratings are firmly in negative territory across multiple polls.
A RealClearPolitics average as of 31 March shows him at 41.3% approval and 56.4% disapproval, while a Silver Bulletin aggregate places his net approval at roughly -16.7, which is the lowest point of his second term so far.
Other surveys paint a similar picture. A CNN/UMass Amherst/YouGov poll conducted in late March found approval at 33%, while Fox News, Quinnipiac, AP-NORC and Reuters/Ipsos polls all show support hovering between the high 30s and low 40s, with disapproval consistently in the mid-to-high 50s or above.
Public Trust In Media at Historic Lows
At the same time, Trump's argument about media credibility aligns with broader public sentiment.
A 2025 Gallup survey found that just 28% of Americans say they trust mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly, the lowest level recorded since the question was first asked in 1972.
The divide is especially stark along political lines. Trust drops to single digits among Republicans, while Democrats report significantly higher confidence. Younger Americans also express less trust than older groups.
Separate data from the Pew Research Centre shows declining confidence in national news organisations, even as local outlets retain relatively higher trust levels.
Taken together, the data reflect a media landscape where scepticism is widespread, a dynamic Trump has frequently pointed to in defending his relationship with press coverage
