President-elect Donald Trump has called for a thorough investigation into the polling practices of J. Ann Selzer, whose pre-election survey indicated Kamala Harris would win Iowa, only for Trump to secure a 13-point victory. The poll, published by the Des Moines Register, was released just days before Election Day and claimed Harris had “leapt” into the lead, surprising many political observers.
Trump, furious over the poll’s prediction, posted on Truth Social, accusing Selzer of spreading “Fake news” and casting doubt on the election process. He claimed the poll caused “great distrust and uncertainty” at a crucial moment. Trump also suggested that there was a deliberate effort to mislead voters, saying, “She knew exactly what she was doing.” His call for an investigation centers on what he sees as a malicious attempt to sway public opinion in Harris’ favor.
🚨 BREAKING: Trump calls for investigation into disgraced Iowa pollster Ann Selzer – who released a poll showing Harris winning the state by 3 points just before Election Day.
She was wrong by 16 – and is now "moving on" to other ventures.
TRUMP: "She knew exactly what she was… pic.twitter.com/FlQNIHrF0v
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 17, 2024
In her response, Selzer expressed disappointment over the poll’s failure to reflect the actual election outcome. She admitted that the results were a humbling reminder of the limitations of polling and announced she would no longer be conducting election surveys. While Selzer released a detailed analysis of the potential reasons for the misfire, Trump’s campaign remains unconvinced.
Steven Cheung, a representative for Trump, doubled down on the accusations, claiming that Selzer’s poll was a deliberate attempt to misinform the public for political gain. The controversy surrounding the poll has intensified debates over the role of polling in modern elections and its potential influence on voter behavior.
Trump slams pollster whose ‘totally fake poll’ showed Harris winning Iowa, calls for probe https://t.co/ns9tLcaJqQ pic.twitter.com/GWU7dh6sFT
— New York Post (@nypost) November 18, 2024
As Trump’s campaign moves forward, they continue to demand accountability from Selzer and the Des Moines Register, suggesting that their actions may have had a larger impact on the race than previously acknowledged.