On April 16, 2026, Trump posted a tirade on Truth Social from Air Force One attacking Fox News host Jessica Tarlov as “one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television” after she cited his poll numbers on The Five. He said her voice was “so grating and terrible, I had to 'turn her off!'” and demanded: “GET HER OFF THE AIR, SHE IS BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY!”
The trigger: Tarlov told her co-hosts, including Kellyanne Conway, that Trump has a “35 percent approval rating in most polls,” that “no Americans wanted the tariffs, they didn't want the war in Iran, and they don't want the ballroom.” Her numbers are accurate — CNN/SSRS shows 35% overall approval (one point off his all-time low), and 31% on the economy (career low).
Trump claimed she “makes up 'Poll Numbers'” and that he has “among the best Poll Numbers I have ever had.” He also claimed “CNN had me at 100%” — this refers to an NBC poll (not CNN) showing 100% approval among self-identified MAGA voters, who represent only 30% of the population. Among all respondents, the same poll showed 44% approval.
This was Trump's third attack on Tarlov in one month. On April 7, he wrote directly to Fox executives: “Take Jessica Tarlov off the air. She is, from her voice, to her lies, and everything else about her, one of the worst 'personalities' on television, a real loser!” In late March, he called into The Five and said: “I watch Jessica, and I'm not a fan.”
The pattern of attacking female journalists with appearance-based insults is documented: Catherine Lucey (“Quiet, piggy”), Katie Rogers (“ugly”), Kaitlan Collins (“stupid and nasty”), Rachel Scott (“most obnoxious reporter”). The Society of Professional Journalists called it “an unmistakable pattern of hostility — often directed at women.”
Tarlov responded: “Guess I'll take this opportunity to mention that my numbers are far from fake — Trump really is that unpopular.”