CNN’s Harry Enten: Trump’s Approval Rating Has Gone Up Since This Whole Epstein Saga Started, At His Apex
CNN’s Harry Enten reports that President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have risen since the latest Epstein list controversy began. “Donald Trump is not the one who has problems with his political base. It is Congressional Democrats are the ones who have problems with their own political base,” Enten said.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, President Trump trying to turn the blame on, surprise, Democrats for the furor surrounding the failure of his DOJ head to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump is also blasting, though some of his own fervent supporters for continuing to call for those documents to be released. CNN’s Harry Enten joining us now. I guess the question here is, is this whole saga with Epstein having any impact on Trump’s approval rating overall when it comes to the grand old party? HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, I mean, look, I think this one surprised me a bit because of all of these complaints online going after Trump and the Epstein files, you might think his approval ratings were going down Republicans. If anything, they’re going up. Republicans who approve of Trump — look at our CNN poll — the prior one, 86 percent, the one out this week, 88 percent with Republicans. How about Quinnipiac? The prior poll, 87 percent approval with Republicans. This week out, 90 percent with Republicans. If anything, Donald Trump’s approval rating has gone up since this whole Epstein saga started. He is at the apex or close there, too, in terms of his popularity with Republican voters, Epstein files complaints or not. SIDNER: You just proved that not everything online is real. ENTEN: Yes, yes, who knew? Who knew? SIDNER: Amazing. ENTEN: Twitter actually not reality. SIDNER: Is there any reason that you can find that this hasn’t taken hold and hurt him? ENTEN: Yes, I mean, on X, all you hear about is the Epstein files. But how about out in the real public? Republicans who said the top issue was Epstein case. The answer is one, one and not 1 percent, one responded. This is a great little finding that Ariel Edwards-Levy, who, of course, is part of our polling unit, found just one single Republican said that the nation’s top problem is, in fact, the Epstein case. Not much of a surprise that therefore Donald Trump’s approval rating has not suffered with Republicans because of the Epstein case. Because the bottom line is, most Americans say it’s not up high up on their priority list. SIDNER: Still, congressional Democrats have been trying to seize on this. You hear them also parroting what you’re hearing online, saying release the files, this is terrible, blah, blah, blah. I mean, is that working for them? ENTEN: No. I mean, look here at here. Here’s what’s so important. You know, we talk about the potential of Republicans leaving Donald Trump. They’re not leaving him. But what about Congressional Democrats and problems with their own base? Democrats’ net approval of Congressional Democrats, according to Quinnipiac University in June of 2025, it was their second worst ever at minus 12 point. It’s that not low enough for you? How about we go even lower? In July of 2025, minus 13 points, their worst net approval rating for Congressional Democrats among Democrats ever. Donald Trump is not the one who has problems with his political base. It is Congressional Democrats are the ones who have problems with their own political base. SIDNER: All right. Harry Enten giving us all the numbers, thank you so much. I appreciate you.
