Trump's Inflation Approval Ratings Sink to Unprecedented Depths
CNN's chief data analyst Harry Enten delivered a stark assessment on Monday, detailing how President Donald Trump is experiencing historic struggles on an issue he once promised to resolve immediately upon starting his second term: inflation. Enten's analysis paints a grim picture for the president's standing with voters on this critical economic concern.
Polling Numbers Reveal Dramatic Decline
"Americans identify inflation as their primary concern at this moment," Enten stated. "To borrow a phrase from the classic film Happy Gilmore, voters believe the price is decidedly wrong when it comes to the current president's performance."
Enten presented multiple polls conducted over the past month that show Trump's handling of inflation receiving net approval ratings ranging from -36 to -47 points. These figures represent the percentage of Americans who approve minus those who disapprove of his approach to rising prices.
Enten emphasized these ratings constitute "all-time record lows" for President Trump. The president's average net approval rating on inflation stands at 42 points underwater, while among independent voters, that deficit expands to a staggering -60 points.
Historical Context and Political Implications
"Trump finds himself in his worst position ever regarding this issue," Enten declared. He drew a colorful comparison to the New York Mets' current losing streak of 11 consecutive regular-season games, marking their longest such slump in more than twenty years.
CNN anchor John Berman noted during the segment that Trump previously performed well on inflation and with independent voters during his 2024 campaign. Enten responded by observing that the president has now diverged from the electoral strengths that contributed to his second-term victory.
"The significance of this shift cannot be overstated," Enten explained. "Although Trump himself won't appear on ballots this November, numerous Republican congressional candidates will be facing voters. Should these polling numbers persist, you can bid farewell—potentially to the House majority and possibly the Senate majority as well."
The analysis suggests that Trump's deteriorating approval on inflation could have substantial downstream effects on Republican electoral prospects, creating headwinds for party candidates seeking to maintain control of Congress.
