Fact Check: Do polls show majority of Americans want Trump imprisoned ahead of midterms?
WASHINGTON, DC: Ahead of the much-awaited midterm elections, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that a CNN report showed that a majority of Americans wanted President Donald Trump to be impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned.
The claim drew mixed reactions from online users, with many calling for a fact-check of the rumor.
Claim: 75% of Americans want Trump impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned
According to a viral post that surfaced on X, CNN reported that 75% of Americans said Trump should be impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned.
The claim has been shared and amplified by several accounts on the platform, collectively garnering millions of views as of this writing.
The claim drew mixed reactions from online users, with many slamming CNN and accusing it of spreading fake news amid its dispute with the White House, while others appeared to believe the claim was authentic.
Meanwhile, a few others remained skeptical and questioned the claim's authenticity.
Fact Check: False, CNN published no such poll
Although several polls have shown low approval ratings for the president, there is no recent CNN poll showing that a majority of Americans want Trump to be impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned.
CNN polling has documented dissatisfaction with Trump's presidency.
For example, a July 2026 CNN poll found that 73% of US adults said Trump had not paid enough attention to the country's most important problems.
However, that figure does not mean that 73% or 75% of Americans wanted Trump to be impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned. A search of the CNN website also yielded no credible report supporting the viral claim.
A broader search for a poll matching the specific 75% figure and the three-part claim also did not produce a credible source supporting it.
Trump rejects Iran ceasefire amid midterm pressure
The claim surfaced amid ongoing political and economic pressure on the Trump administration over the war in Iran, rising gas prices, and inflation.
A September Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump's approval rating at 32%, while 34% of respondents approved of his handling of the conflict with Iran.
Trump recently rejected Iran's proposed seven-day ceasefire and said he had rejected its proposal concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also said Trump expected US bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections.
The proposal aimed to reopen the Hormuz and resume nuclear negotiations in exchange for the US easing its military and economic pressure on Iran.
Iran had said it was willing to reopen the strategically important waterway within a week if the US reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, Trump said, “The Republican Party is running, and I’ll be helping them, but I am not running. I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence through the election when it comes to Iran. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
