Ten months into his presidency, Donald Trump is facing a political gut punch — a fresh wave of national polling that paints a brutal picture of his standing with the American public. Within hours of the numbers going public, Trump fired off a furious response, railing against what he called “fake numbers” and insisting that he remains “the most loved president in history.”

The new approval ratings — released by multiple polling agencies on Tuesday morning — show Trump’s support sinking to one of the lowest points recorded by a modern U.S. president at this stage in their term. According to a national survey, just 34% of Americans approve of the job he’s doing, with a staggering 61% disapproving. It’s a snapshot of a deeply polarized nation — and one that Trump clearly isn’t taking lightly.

“The polls are a joke,” Trump declared in a blistering post on X. “Fake numbers from fake pollsters. The REAL numbers are incredible, and the people know it!”

“FAKE POLLS! Just more made-up numbers from people who hate America. We’re WINNING — big time.” — Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

The poll also showed cratering support among independent voters — a key bloc that helped Trump secure the presidency in 2016. According to internal figures, his approval rating among independents has dropped below 30%, while strong disapproval has soared to 66%. Analysts say this kind of deficit would be “extremely difficult to recover from” heading into a re-election year.

White House insiders told reporters that Trump’s mood after seeing the numbers was “combative and volatile.” One aide described him “storming around the West Wing,” demanding to know which pollsters were behind the survey and accusing his own communications team of not doing enough to “fix the narrative.”

“He was fuming,” the aide said. “He kept repeating, ‘This is rigged. Totally rigged.’”

The polling comes at a time of heightened political tension, with Trump facing growing criticism over foreign policy, the economy, and his handling of domestic unrest. Recent controversies have sparked nationwide debates, including his fiery confrontation with journalists at a press briefing last week, which one commentator called “an unhinged performance” on live television.

“He’s clearly rattled by the numbers. These are devastating.” @nytimes

Historically, no modern president has recovered from such dismal ratings without a dramatic shift in strategy. According to Gallup data, Trump’s approval rating at this point in his presidency is lower than that of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and just slightly higher than Jimmy Carter’s during his lowest period.

But Trump’s response has been to double down, not pivot. In another post, he declared: “The Silent Majority is bigger than ever. Watch what happens next.” That post racked up millions of views in hours, as loyal supporters flooded his feed with encouragement.

“This is classic Trump,” political analyst Dr. Ian Roberts explained to journalists. “He doesn’t just reject bad news — he weaponizes it. He turns weakness into a rallying cry.”

Still, the numbers tell a grim story. A recent poll showed 72% of Americans believe Trump has “made the country more divided,” while 64% say they “do not trust him to tell the truth.” Nearly half say they “strongly disapprove” of his performance, a figure that has steadily climbed over the past four months.

“Approval ratings this low are political quicksand. And he knows it.” @ABC

Trump allies, meanwhile, are trying to frame the bad news as “meaningless.” Several conservative commentators on television and social media claimed that “polls don’t vote — people do,” pointing to 2016 as proof that national surveys can be wrong. “They said he couldn’t win then,” one pundit said. “And we all saw what happened.”

But critics argue the landscape is different now. With trust issues, legal battles, and international crises piling up, some believe Trump may be facing a much steeper climb. “This isn’t the same political climate as 2016,” one Democratic strategist told a reporter. “These numbers are real — and dangerous.”

Even some Republican operatives have privately acknowledged the growing concerns. A senior campaign adviser told a news outlet that “the path to re-election is narrow” if Trump can’t win back independents and suburban voters. “There’s denial in some circles, but these numbers are sobering,” they added.

“The polls are not just bad. They’re historically bad.” @CNN

Trump’s inner circle has reportedly discussed shifting messaging toward “strength and stability” — emphasizing his role as a fighter against what he calls “the deep state” and “fake news.” He is expected to hold a major rally next week aimed at reigniting his base, which remains fiercely loyal despite the dismal numbers.

“This is exactly when he digs in,” a longtime associate said. “He doesn’t retreat. He attacks.”

But not everyone is convinced that strategy will work this time. “His base is strong, but it’s not enough,” political commentator Laura Jennings told analysts. “Unless he expands his support, these numbers could lock him into an unwinnable position.”

“He’s spinning the polls, but the numbers speak louder than the tweets.” @Reuters

Whether Trump can reverse his plunging approval ratings remains to be seen. But the scathing response, the furious tweets, and the escalating rhetoric suggest one thing is certain — he’s gearing up for a political war he refuses to lose.