Vice President JD Vance Dismisses Fox News Poll Showing Democrats Favoured for 2026 Midterms
Vice President JD Vance has openly criticised a recent Fox News poll that indicates voters prefer Democrats over Republicans as the 2026 midterm election season approaches. During an interview on Tuesday with anchor Martha MacCallum, Vance asserted that Fox News consistently produces the "worst" polling, a sentiment he claims is shared by President Trump.
Vance Mocks Polling While Promoting Administration's Economic Record
"I will say, as much as we love Fox News, we always think Fox News has the worst polling," Vance stated with a chuckle. "Me and the president agree on that. I’m sorry. It’s true." He quickly pivoted to highlighting the administration's economic achievements, suggesting that Americans are approximately $1,200 wealthier since the Trump administration took office, though he did not provide a source for this figure.
"If you’re looking at it from the perspective of the last year, Americans have done better," Vance added. "If you look at it from the perspective of the Biden administration, we’re still digging out of the hole Democrats put us in."
Mixed Economic Results Under Trump Administration
Recent analyses present a complex picture of the Trump economy. While inflation has remained low and the stock market has performed strongly, job growth has been meagre, with an average of only 15,000 jobs added per month over the past year—a historically poor showing for a non-recession period. Jeffrey Cleveland, chief economist at Payden & Rygel, noted, "The labor market has been objectively weak."
Additionally, the administration's tariffs have contributed to global economic uncertainty without delivering the promised surge in manufacturing employment. The signature Trump tax bill has largely benefited the wealthiest fifth of Americans, according to the Institution on Taxation and Economic Policy, and the GOP has yet to pass a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, even as health subsidies expired last year.
Immigration Operations Spark Controversy and Polling Concerns
The administration's military-style immigration operations in cities like Minneapolis have generated significant controversy. An AP-NORC poll found that six in ten Americans believe Trump has "gone too far" in his immigration agenda. In January, federal agents fatally shot two Americans protesting these operations in Minneapolis, with Vance commenting that neither he nor the president liked the "videos" from the incident.
Vance blamed immigration "chaos" on sanctuary jurisdictions, stating, "Where you have that chaos in Los Angeles, in Minneapolis, it's because the local authorities are so committed to an open border that they want to put law enforcement at risk. We’re not going to surrender to that." However, local leaders in Minnesota assert that state jails and county sheriffs already cooperate with immigration enforcement, though cities like Minneapolis do not partner with federal officials to make arrests.
Broader Political Context and 2028 Speculation
Elsewhere in the interview, Vance mocked Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's recent remarks at the Munich Security Conference and downplayed speculation about a rivalry with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the 2028 presidential nomination. Despite his criticisms, polling continues to forecast a likely Democratic victory in the 2026 midterms, with affordability and economic issues expected to be key topics for voters.
As the election season intensifies, Vance's dismissal of unfavourable polls underscores the administration's strategy to focus on perceived economic successes while navigating challenges in immigration and healthcare policy.
