WATCH: CNN Data Expert Reveals Trump’s Skyrocketing Approval, Leaves Host Speechless
CNN’s latest coverage revealed a stunning change in public sentiment, revealing a significant turnaround in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings. CNN data analyst Harry Enten, known for his sharp insights, walked viewers through the numbers that left the network’s host visibly taken aback.
Enten pointed to data from JP/Ipsos showing Trump with a net approval rating of +6 in January 2025—an impressive nine-point increase from his position at the start of his first term in 2017. At that time, Trump made history by becoming the first president to enter office with a negative net approval rating. The latest figures, however, tell a different story.
“Look at where we are now,” Enten said. “Considerably better at plus six points—that’s up nine points. To borrow a Donald Trump phrase, this is ‘big league.’”
Trump’s approval rating during his first term never exceeded a net of +3, making this latest surge a milestone. Enten pointed out that, for the first time, more Americans approve of Trump’s job performance than disapprove, a development that seemed to catch the CNN panel off guard.
“He’s in a better position than he was at any point during his entire first term. Things have very much turned around. This is a very different Donald Trump,” Enten said. “He’s leading a very different administration the way he’s attacking things. And the American public is very much more in line with him than they were at any point during his entire first term.”
Enten explored historical comparisons and confirmed that Trump is the only president whose net approval rating in the first month of a second term is higher than any approval rating during his entire first term. “I have a really hard time believing this, but it’s 100% true,” he admitted. “The numbers don’t lie.”
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Trump kicked off his second term with a 47% approval rating, based on a JP/Ipsos poll conducted on January 20-21. The 47th President has also adopted a more forceful approach to governance, marked by a flurry of executive orders.
Key decisions include the U.S. exit from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, pardons for individuals linked to the January 6th Capitol breach, and efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship. During this term, Trump has also filled critical roles with staunch supporters.
A prime example is Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense. Trump’s second term has also been a period of renewed cultural and political vigor within the Republican Party, enjoying a surge in popularity and support from high-profile figures.
Additionally, the administration has conducted large-scale operations targeting illegal immigration. According to government reports, over 530 individuals have been arrested, with hundreds deported in what has been described as the largest mass deportation to date.
In foreign policy, Trump is preparing for a significant meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian representative to the UN has emphasized that any agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine must address the root causes and not merely seek a cessation of hostilities.