CNN's chief data analyst Harry Enten argued Thursday that President Donald Trump's handling of inflation could seriously doom the GOP in November's midterms.
Trump's Tone-Deaf Statement
"President Trump may love the inflation, the American people hate the inflation, and I think the Republicans on Capitol Hill absolutely hated Donald Trump's statement. Why? Because, just, it is absolutely funneling down," said Enten of Trump confessing his "love" for inflation after it hit a three-year high last month.
Enten, who called out Trump for making "one of the most politically tone deaf" statements he's ever heard, highlighted how the president's net approval rating on inflation (or the cost of living) has been -50 points or worse in at least eight polls this year, per data from the Roper Center.
Historical Context
Trump stands apart from the rest of the pack, as no other president has been faced with such negative approval numbers on inflation, per Enten. Trump is also the only president to have an 80% disapproval on gas prices, the data guru added.
Republicans are suffering due to Trump's handling of inflation, as Democrats are the party that's more trusted to tackle it for the first time since the 1970s, according to Enten, who cited an aggregate of polls. He pointed out that the last time Democrats were trusted more on inflation (per an average of multiple polls) was 1978, just two years before an "inflation boom" contributed to Jimmy Carter's failed reelection bid.
Warning for GOP
"And if history is prologue in this situation, well, it's going to take out the Republican majority in the House, as well," he warned. "So no wonder that Republicans heard that statement and just like me [were like] ... 'What, what, what, what did I just hear? Well, you just heard a president who wants to sink his party's midterm fortunes. That's what you just heard."
