Fact-check analysisVerified as of August 16, 2026Curated by FactVerify
True

Bill Cassidy said that claims he described as “crazy” and “stupid” were why President Trump’s poll numbers were going down.

The claim is true because Bill Cassidy called President Trump’s vaccine-related statements and policy proposals “crazy” and “stupid,” then said the resulting loss of focus on affordability, convenience, and families’ real-world concerns was why Trump’s poll numbers were declining.

Republican senator denounces Trump’s ‘crazy, stupid’ claims about MMR vaccine safety - Trump administration | The Guardian

Republican senator denounces Trump’s ‘crazy, stupid’ claims about MMR vaccine safety - Trump administration | The Guardian

Source: theguardian.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 16, 2026
  • ABC News reported that Cassidy called Trump’s vaccine executive order a “stupid thing to do” and said Trump’s poll numbers were down because he had lost sight of affordability, convenience, and family concerns.

  • CNN, Newsweek, The Independent, and Grabien similarly connected Cassidy’s criticism of the vaccine policy to his explanation for Trump’s declining polling.

  • The Guardian and CNN also corroborated that Cassidy described Trump’s MMR-related claims or comments as “crazy” and “stupid.”.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The statement refers to remarks made by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana during media appearances on August 16, 2026, while President Donald Trump was in office.

Cassidy criticized Trump’s claims about changing the childhood MMR vaccination schedule, including the suggestion that splitting the combined vaccine would not cause harm. Multiple reports said Cassidy characterized the idea or related comments as “crazy” and “stupid.”

Cassidy separately connected the policy dispute to Trump’s declining political support. According to ABC News, CNN, Newsweek, and other reports, Cassidy said Trump’s poll numbers were down because the administration had lost sight of affordability, convenience for families, and the practical realities of parents’ lives.

The wording slightly compresses Cassidy’s argument. He did not appear to say that the insulting statements alone mechanically caused the polling decline. Rather, he argued that the vaccine policy and broader pattern of seeming out of touch with voters were contributing reasons. That distinction does not materially change the claim’s core attribution: Cassidy did describe the claims or policy as “crazy” and “stupid” and linked the issue to Trump’s falling poll numbers.

Primary trail

Verified Sources10

Republican senator denounces Trump’s ‘crazy, stupid’ claims about MMR vaccine...

theguardian.com30 minutes ago
Open source

Bill Cassidy Calls Trump's Vaccine Plan 'Stupid Policy'

newsweek.com2 hours ago
Open source

Sen. Cassidy Calls Trump Vaccine Push ‘Stupid:’ Instead of the Child Getting Two...

grabien.com
Open source
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