On a recent segment of CNN’s “News Central,” senior data reporter Harry Enten shared some surprising insights about President Donald Trump’s popularity during his second term. He noted that many Americans believe the country is on the right track, a sentiment that seems to be rising significantly.
Enten pointed out that while discussions often focus on Trump’s unpopularity, his approval ratings tell a different story. In fact, he is more popular now than he was during his first term. Currently, Trump’s net favorable rating stands at minus four points, which is an improvement compared to minus seven points when he won the election in November 2024, and minus ten points in March 2017.
This shift in perception is crucial, according to Enten. He highlighted that 42% of Americans feel the country is on the right track when incumbents are re-elected. For context, during the time when then-Vice President Kamala Harris faced a loss and the Democrats lost power, only about 27 to 28% of people felt similarly positive.
Enten’s comments shed light on a critical aspect of American political sentiment. It appears that Trump’s current standing could be stronger than many realize, and this could impact the political landscape moving forward.