Ex-Aide Ridicules Former President Donald Trump’s Poll Boast, Calls Out His Obsession with Favorable Numbers: 'Emperor Has No Clothes'

Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary, took to social media to mock Donald Trump for his latest boast about being ahead in a single poll. The jab comes just days after Grisham made headlines at the Democratic National Convention for her scathing rebuke of the former president, whom she once supported fervently.

Trump, who has consistently used his social media platform, Truth Social, to communicate directly with his base, recently posted an all-caps message declaring his lead in a Rasmussen poll over Vice President Kamala Harris. “FIVE POINTS UP OVER KAMALA IN THE JUST RELEASED RASMUSSEN POLL. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump exclaimed, clearly pleased with the results from the conservative-leaning pollster.

The post quickly caught the attention of Grisham, who has become one of Trump’s more vocal critics since leaving the White House. Grisham, who served as both White House press secretary and chief of staff to First Lady Melania Trump, resigned in the wake of the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Her departure came after Melania Trump refused to condemn the violence, a moment Grisham has described as a turning point in her view of the Trump presidency.

On Friday, Grisham did not hold back in her critique of Trump’s latest social media outburst. Taking to the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), she ridiculed Trump’s fixation on the Rasmussen poll, pointing out that it was often the only poll he paid attention to because of its consistent favorability towards him. Grisham’s post included a cry-laughing emoji and the hashtag #TheEmperorHasNoClothes, underscoring her belief that Trump’s reliance on favorable numbers was more about maintaining his ego than reflecting the broader political landscape.

The timing of Trump’s boast is notable, as it comes amid reports of a national bump in support for Kamala Harris. According to FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates polling data, Harris was leading Trump by an average of 3.7 points as of late August, a significant shift in the political dynamics as the 2024 election approaches.

Grisham’s critique highlights a recurring theme from her time in the White House: Trump’s obsession with favorable media coverage and polling numbers. During her tenure, Grisham and other aides reportedly used positive polls like Rasmussen to placate Trump, even when other indicators suggested he was struggling. This strategy, according to Grisham, was less about providing an accurate picture of the political landscape and more about keeping the president content.

The former press secretary’s comments reflect a growing chorus of criticism from former Trump allies who have since distanced themselves from his political orbit. As the 2024 election cycle heats up, such critiques are likely to intensify, particularly as Trump continues to wield considerable influence within the Republican Party.

Grisham’s public disapproval serves as a reminder of the internal dynamics that shaped the Trump administration, where managing the president’s perceptions often took precedence over addressing broader political realities. With Trump’s continued reliance on selective polling to bolster his image, the question remains whether his strategy will resonate with voters as it did in previous campaigns, or if it will contribute to further erosion of his support.