Trump’s Popularity Surges Despite Media Focus on Protests, CNN Analyst Reveals

In a surprising twist that contradicts mainstream media narratives, CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten delivered a striking “reality check” on Tuesday, revealing that President Donald Trump’s favorability is stronger than widely perceived. While protests rage over Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) budget cuts and immigration policies, Enten’s analysis suggests that Americans are growing increasingly supportive of the president.

Despite Trump’s net favorability rating remaining in the negative, Enten urged a different perspective on the data, noting that Trump has historically been underestimated in polling.

“I think sometimes it’s important to do a little bit of a reality check and take a different spin on the numbers,” Enten stated. “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.”

A New Perspective on Trump’s Popularity

Enten’s analysis presented an eye-opening comparison: Trump’s current net favorability rating stands at -4, an improvement from the -7 rating he had when he won the 2024 election, and significantly higher than the -10 rating he held in March 2017, early in his first term.

“When you compare Trump against himself, he’s actually closer to the apex than he is to the bottom of the trough,” Enten explained. “And of course, that’s so important because Donald Trump, historically speaking, has had his numbers underestimated.”

‘Right Track’ Numbers Suggest Widespread Approval

Enten further pointed to an even more compelling metric: the percentage of Americans who believe the country is on the right track.

“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,” Enten noted.

According to Marist polling, 45% of Americans now believe the country is headed in the right direction—one of the highest percentages recorded since 2009. NBC News data mirrors this trend, reporting a 44% approval, the highest figure recorded since 2004.

“The bottom line is the percentage of Americans who say we’re on the right track is through the roof,” Enten said, emphasizing the significance of this surge in public confidence.

Congressional Ballot Trends Mirror Republican Victories

Enten also examined another key indicator of Trump’s growing strength: the Democratic vs. Republican congressional ballot margin. His analysis found that the current trends in March 2025 are closely aligned with years in which Republicans secured control of Congress.

“The bottom line is, yes, Donald Trump’s approval rating is lower than a lot of his predecessors, but it’s higher when compared to himself,” Enten summarized. “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.”

A Wake-Up Call for Critics?

While media outlets continue to spotlight opposition to Trump’s policies, Enten’s analysis suggests that Americans are increasingly rallying behind the president. With public sentiment shifting, political strategists and analysts may need to recalibrate their expectations for the upcoming election cycle.

As protests dominate headlines, Trump’s growing favorability rating and rising optimism about the country’s trajectory may indicate that the real political momentum lies not with his critics, but with the expanding base of Americans who believe his leadership is steering the nation in the right direction.