When Donald Trump first kicked off his campaign for president, he quickly gained popularity in the conservative base due to his controversial style and rhetoric. While Trump was once a fan of the polls when the results were positive, the White House no longer wants the American people to pay any attention to them.
Sanders on Trump
As the 2016 presidential election moved forward, it became clear that Donald Trump was picking up steam.
By the time the Republican primary came to a close, the former host of "The Apprentice" shocked the world by beating out his 16 other GOP opponents and became the party's nominee. Just months later and the once impossible became reality when Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on Election Day. With an approval rating in the low to mid 40s, Trump found a way to pick up the victory, though controversy continues to linger over his win in regards to the role Russia played in hacking the election. Despite Trump's upset over Clinton, the start of his presidency has been met with constant roadblocks and scandals, which have reflected negatively in the most recent round of polling.
During the September 1 press briefing at the White House, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was quick to dismiss the president's current standing with the American people.
Heading into the weekend, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke to the media and covered a variety of issues. One question came from Alex Pfeiffer, a writer for the right-wing Daily Caller, who pressed Sanders on a poll from Fox News which showed that the majority of the American people think that Trump is tearing the country apart.
"The numbers that we're focused on have to do with actual problems that Americans are facing," Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in response. "That's what we're focused on," she continued, before adding, "certainly not silly polls that frankly weren't much use to us in the election and certainly I don’t think are now."
Twitter reacts
Not long after Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave her press conference, critics of the administration lashed out on social media.
"(SHS) is not a pleasant person. She's a snarky, sour person like her daddy!" one tweet read.
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the press conferences gives half assed answers & a BAD attitude towards reporters," another Twitter user wrote. "I don't care how many times (she) lies for her master, ending DACA isn't about policy, crime or economy, it's about racism," an additional tweet added.
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders is infuriating! If she does not have a quick lie to spout, she refuses to answer anything," yet another post noted. As the backlash continued, it was made clear that the rift between Donald Trump's administration and their critics was not going to end anytime soon.