Trump rarely gets credit from the mainstream media. But times are changing.
Now CNN broke ranks and handed Donald Trump a massive win.
A Fresh Lens on Trump’s Standing
CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten stepped up Tuesday with a sharp “reality check” on President Donald Trump’s favorability, cutting through the noise of media chatter.
While headlines fixate on protests over the administration’s DOGE cuts and immigration crackdowns, Enten pointed to a quieter truth: Americans might be warming up to Trump more than the narrative suggests. It’s a perspective that digs past the surface, spotlighting a leader who’s steadily gaining ground.
Trump’s net favorability still sits in the red, but Enten urged viewers to rethink the numbers. “I think sometimes it’s important to do a little bit of a reality check and take a little different spin at the numbers,” he said.
“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.” It’s a nudge to look beyond the usual gloom-and-doom takes and see a trend that’s been building.
Trump’s Numbers Tell a New Story
Enten’s case hinges on context—comparing Trump to his own past rather than the typical presidential yardstick. “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,” he explained.
The data backs him up: Trump’s net favorability now hovers at -4, a climb from -7 when he clinched victory in November 2024, and a far cry from the -10 he faced in March 2017. “So when you compare Trump against himself, he’s actually closer to the apex than he is to the bottom of the trough,” Enten added.
“And of course, that‘s so important because Donald Trump, historically speaking, has had his numbers underestimated.”
That historical underestimation is key. Polls didn’t fully capture Trump’s support in past cycles, and Enten sees a similar dynamic at play now.
It’s not just about favorability—it’s about a resilience that’s starting to show through, hinting at a public quietly shifting in his favor despite the loud pushback.
A Country Feeling the Momentum
Enten didn’t stop at favorability. He pointed to a brighter metric: voter confidence in America’s direction. “Let‘s take a look at the percentage of the country who say that we‘re on the right track. It‘s actually a very high percentage when you compare it to some historical numbers,” he said.
The figures are striking—Marist pegs it at 45%, the second-highest since 2009, while NBC News hits 44%, a peak not seen since 2004. “The bottom line is the percentage of Americans who say we‘re on the right track is through the roof,” he noted, suggesting a wave of optimism that’s hard to ignore.
He also tossed in a look at the congressional ballot split between Democrats and Republicans, noting March 2025 numbers echo years when the GOP swept control. “The bottom line is, yes, Donald Trump‘s approval rating is lower than compared to a lot of his predecessors, but it’s higher when compared to himself,” Enten wrapped up.
“A lot of folks say the country is on the right track, and the generic congressional ballot looks a heck of a lot more like when Republicans win than when Democrats win.” It’s a data-driven nod to a presidency finding its footing—and a public starting to feel the lift.
