Nothing quite warms the heart like watching a CNN data analyst reluctantly deliver good news about Donald Trump. That is essentially what happened when Harry Enten went on air to break down second term approval numbers, and the results were, shall we say, not exactly what the network's typical viewer wants to hear over morning coffee.
According to polling data highlighted by CNN, a whopping 83 percent of Republican voters are giving Trump a thumbs up on his job performance. That number puts him ahead of both Barack Obama and George W. Bush when you compare them at similar points during their respective second terms. So congrats to the 45th and 47th president for achieving something that neither a Nobel Peace Prize winner nor a wartime commander in chief could pull off with their own bases.
Enten, who to his credit seemed genuinely impressed rather than physically pained, pointed out that all three presidents enjoyed solid backing from their respective parties. But only one of them cracked the 80 percent barrier. "He still has that magic touch," Enten said, which is the kind of compliment you give someone when the numbers leave you absolutely no other choice.
Now, why does this matter beyond giving Trump supporters something to screenshot and post everywhere? Well, historically speaking, presidents who keep their own party locked in tend to have enormous influence over primary elections, legislative fights, and voter turnout. And sure enough, Enten noted that Trump's popularity has already shown up in primary contests this year, with the analyst suggesting it could carry over into South Carolina as well.
What makes these numbers particularly remarkable is the context. This is a guy who has been through more legal battles than most law firms handle in a decade, faced relentless political opposition, and endured media coverage that could generously be described as "not friendly." Yet Republican voters remain firmly in his corner like he is an undefeated heavyweight champion refusing to leave the ring.
Of course, the national picture is a bit more complicated. Trump's overall approval remains sharply divided along partisan lines, which is about as surprising as finding out water is wet. But within the GOP itself, the guy is operating at levels that would make any politician jealous.
Enten wrapped things up by calling Trump "historically popular" among members of his own party, which coming from a CNN analyst feels like the equivalent of your rival admitting you cooked the better steak at the neighborhood barbecue. Sometimes the numbers just speak for themselves, and in this case, they are practically shouting.
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