Exclusive: President Trump Says the Mueller Investigation Hurt His Approval Ratings

President Donald Trump's approval rating has never cracked 50% in Gallup polls, but he argues that it would be several points above that if it weren't for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

"Based on the economy, I should be up 15 or 20 points higher," Trump told TIME, arguing that he has a natural base of 45% or 46%. "The thing that I have that nobody's ever had before, from the day I came down the escalator, I have had a phony witch hunt against me ... I think it's cost me.

President Donald Trump's approval rating has never cracked 50% in Gallup polls, but he argues that it would be several points above that if it weren't for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. "Based on the economy, I should be up 15 or 20 points higher," Trump told TIME, arguing that he has a natural base of 45% or 46%. "The thing that I have that nobody's ever had before, from the day I came down the escalator, I have had a phony witch hunt against me ... I think it's cost me.