CNN’s data analyst Harry Enten on Monday provided a compelling analysis of President Donald Trump’s popularity, offering Democrats a “reality check” regarding his political viability. Despite ongoing criticism and media opposition, Enten highlighted that Trump currently enjoys support levels higher than at many points during his first term—and even surpassing those he experienced when he secured re-election in 2024.
“I think sometimes it’s important to do a little bit of reality check and take a little different spin at the numbers,” Enten said during his segment. “I’m going to do that right here because all we talk about is how unpopular Donald Trump is. But in reality, he’s basically more popular than he was at any point in term number one and more popular than he was when he won election back in November of 2024. What are we talking about? His net favorable rating right now comes in at minus seven points; in March of 2017, he was at minus 10 points. So when you compare Trump against himself, he’s actually closer to the apex than he is.”
Enten went on by underscoring a critical factor often overlooked by the media: Trump’s poll numbers have historically been underestimated. “Donald Trump, historically speaking, has had his numbers underestimated. So I think it’s very important to compare him to himself to understand he’s actually more popular now than he was when he won or certainly where he was at this point back in his first term. The bottom line is Trump is more towards the ceiling than he is towards the floor.”
The data presents a setback for Democrats, who had banked on Trump’s unpopularity to hurt Republican prospects in future elections. According to Enten, public perception of the nation under Trump’s leadership is more favorable than under previous administrations.
A notable share of Americans now believes the country is on the right track, with figures significantly higher than historical averages. Marist polling indicates that 45% of respondents feel the nation is headed in the right direction—the second-highest percentage recorded since 2009. Likewise, an NBC News poll reveals that 44% share this positive outlook, the highest level noted since 2004.
Enten pointed out that a significant percentage of Americans believe the country is on the right track, which is reminiscent of a re-election environment. This stands in stark contrast to the time during Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s tenure, when only 27-28% of people felt positively. He also emphasized the Republican Party’s strength as they approach the 2026 midterms, citing recent congressional ballot trends that resemble past GOP victories.
“The bottom line is yes, Donald Trump’s approval rating is lower than compared to a lot of his predecessors, but it’s higher than compared to himself. A lot of folks say the country’s on the right track, and the generic congressional ballot looks a heck of a lot more like when Republicans win than when Democrats win,” Enten concluded.