President Donald Trump has bragged about his approval rating using a contentious poll that generally skews in his favour, and pegs his support anywhere between seven and 11 per cent higher than other surveys.

Mr Trump tweeted that he had a 50 per cent approval rating on Wednesday, a message he displayed in an image with big, bold lettering. Much smaller was the source, Rasmussen Reports, which has generally shown a higher rate of approval than other outlets.

He did so just hours after attending the funeral for former President George HW Bush.

Other polling firms — which have conducted polls this month — point to support in the range of 39 to 43 per cent of Americans.

“Working hard, thank you!” Mr Trump wrote.

The president’s tweet was quickly criticised online by polling experts, including FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver, who has previously called the polling firm “biased”.

“The president is citing a poll from @Rasmussen_Poll, which said that Republicans would win the popular vote for the U.S. House,” Mr Silver tweeted. “Instead, Democrats won it by 9 points”.

Mr Silver’s website — which aggregates polling from all major firms — pegs the president’s approval at 42 per cent. A different poll aggregate compiled by Real Clear Politics pegs his overall support at 43 per cent.

Mr Trump has quoted Rasmussen Reports polling at least 13 times since October 2016.

George HW Bush – in pictures Show all 25 1 /25 George HW Bush – in pictures George HW Bush – in pictures 1988 President-elect George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara wave to supporters in Houston, Texas after winning the presidential election AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1942-45 US Navy aviator George HW Bush sits in the cockpit of an Avenger plane during his August 1942 to September 1945 stint in the US Navy George Bush Presidential Library/Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1943 George HW Bush, in uniform as a Naval Aviator Cadet George Bush Presidential Library/Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1944 Lt Junior Grade George HW Bush is rescued from the sea by crew members of the USS Finback after his plane was shot down over Chichijima, Japan on 2 September, 1944 George Bush Presidential Library/Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1964 George HW Bush, candidate for the Republican nomination for the US Senate, gets returns by phone at his headquarters in Houston, as his wife Barbara, smiles at the news AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1968 George HW Bush in Washington AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1970 George HW Bush talks with a group of young people at a rally in Houston AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1971 US Ambassador George HW Bush gestures as he addresses the United Nations General Assembly during the China debate. He denied the US formula was either a "Two Chinas" or a "One China and one Taiwan" plan at the time AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1976 George HW Bush is sworn in as Director of CIA by Justice Potter Stewart (left) as President Gerald Ford (right) looks on, in 1976 George Bush Presidential Library/Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1980 Former President Gerald Ford lends his support to Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan and his running mate George HW Bush, in Peoria AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1980 George HW Bush, center foreground, acknowledges the crowd before speaking to the Republican Convention delegates in Detroit AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1984 Vice president George HW Bush addresses the Young Republicans Dinner 1984 REUTERSGeorge Bush Presidential Library/Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1984 George HW Bush celebrates after he was re-elected to the vice president post AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1988 Vice President George HW Bush gives his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1988 Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 1989 President George HW Bush raises his right hand as he is sworn into office as the 41st president of the United States by Chief Justice William Rehnquist outside the west front of the Capitol as first lady Barbara Bush holds the bible for her husband AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1989 US President George HW Bush holds a news conference at the White House where he condemned the Chinese crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1990 President George HW Bush is greeted by Saudi troops and others as he arrives in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for a Thanksgiving visit AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1990 President George HW Bush is greeted by King Fahd as he arrives in Saudi Arabia AP George HW Bush – in pictures 1992 President George Bush gestures while standing next to former President Gerald Ford during a campaign rally at the Gerald Ford Museum Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 2002 Former US President George Bush speaks with his wife Barbara as their son, Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate, incumbent Gov. Jeb Bush, celebrates victory at his election night party in Miami Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 2007 Former President George HW Bush free falls with Golden Knights parachute team member Sgt 1st Class Mike Elliott, as he makes a dramatic entrance to his presidential museum during a rededication ceremony in College Station, Texas US Army/AP George HW Bush – in pictures 2009 President George W. Bush, center, poses with President-elect Barack Obama, second left, and former presidents, George HW Bush, left, Bill Clinton, second right, and Jimmy Carter, right, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington AP George HW Bush – in pictures 2012 President George HW Bush, and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, arrive for the premiere of HBO's documentary on his life near the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine AP George HW Bush – in pictures 2013 Father and son, both former US Presidents, George HW Bush (left) and George W Bush, shake hands at the dedication for the George W Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas Reuters George HW Bush – in pictures 2018 Presidents George W. Bush, left, and George HW Bush arrive at St. Martin's Episcopal Church for a funeral service for former first lady Barbara Bush, in Houston AP

In many of his posts, he compares his approval to that of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who Mr Trump has frequently attacked.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump had sat next to Mr Obama while attending Bush’s funeral. The pair were joined by their wives, as well as all of the remaining living presidents in Washington for the ceremony.

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