Enten: Trump Has A Significantly Higher Foreign Policy Rating Than Obama or Bush Due To Israel-Hamas Peace Deal
CNN data analyst Harry Enten reported that Trump’s foreign policy standing has improved significantly in his second term. Enten said Trump now ranks highest among 21st-century presidents on foreign policy approval, citing his role in brokering the Israel-Hamas peace deal and efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel as key factors that could define his legacy.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, breaking news. Sources tell CNN that the Trump administration has been working to try to hammer out a new peace plan with Russia to end its war on Ukraine. The Army’s secretary, the secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, and a top level Pentagon delegation is in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian officials at this moment. The negotiations — these negotiations really boosted in intensity this week as the Kremlin signaled renewed openness to some kind of a deal. I want to bring in CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten. Look, it’s no secret that President Trump wants a Nobel Prize for his foreign policy. HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes. Yes. BERMAN: He talks about it. He wants it. ENTEN: Yes. BERMAN: He has what happened in Gaza to point at. He thinks that if he hammers out a deal with Ukraine and Russia that could burnish his credentials. What do voters think about what he’s doing on foreign policy? ENTEN: You know, this is one of the areas in which Donald Trump is performing significantly better than he was in term one. One of his best issues relative to term one. What are we talking about? Approve of Trump on foreign policy at this point in term one? Look, Donald Trump was just at a 35 percent approval rating. Up like a rocket. We’re talking about 43 percent now. That’s an eight-point rise. On the net approval rating, we’re talking about a double digit rise. The American people like much more of what they’re seeing from Donald Trump and foreign policy in term two than they did in term number one. BERMAN: So, often presidents in their second term, usually later in their second term, frankly, will turn to foreign policy. ENTEN: Yes. BERMAN: So how does President Trump compare to past presidents in their second term? ENTEN: You know, this, to me, is one of the most interesting data points, because normally when we look at these data points, we see that Trump is doing worse than other presidents. But on this one, he is doing significantly better. Because take a look here. All right, 21st century foreign policy approval rating at this point in term two. George W. Bush was down at 36 percent. Barack Obama was at 37 percent. Look at this, Donald Trump actually leads the pack at 43 percent. Donald Trump has a higher foreign policy approval rating at this point in a second term than any other president who served their second — entire second term in the 21st century. This is something I think Donald Trump really likes to look at because the bottom line is this, president’s like to build their legacies off of foreign policy. And at this particular point, the American people like much more of what Donald Trump’s doing on foreign policy than either of the two other 21st century presidents who served at least or served two terms. BERMAN: Good, good chances of being screen-grabbed and framed and taken to the Oval Office very shortly here. ENTEN: Yes. BERMAN: How about specifically how voters feel about what the president did in Israel and Gaza? ENTEN: Yes, I think part of the reason why Donald Trump is significantly higher than either Obama or Bush is what happened with Donald Trump able to help formulate a peace deal between the Israelis and Hamas. What are we talking about? Net approval rating, Israel- Hamas conflict. Look at this. Joe Biden was 37 points below water by the end of his presidency. Way, way, way, way down there. Look at Donald Trump. Actually in the positive area. Look at this, a plus three net approval rating. The American people liked what Trump was able to do between the Israelis and Hamas. And that, I think, is a large part of the reason why his foreign policy is at the apex compared to other two term presidents this century. BERMAN: That is a huge swing. Maybe backwards looking. Forwards looking, we’re talking about Ukraine and Russia. There’s also the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel. So, as people look ahead, what are they thinking there? ENTEN: Yes. Yes. So, you see this 40-point rise, right, from minus 37 points to plus three points, Donald Trump doing considerably better. If he was actually able to ensure that the Saudis and the Israelis were actually able to normalize ties, that would make his legacy even greater. And take a look here, chance Israelis and Saudis normalize ties. This according to the prediction markets. This is where people put their money, right? Look at this, 56 percent chance during Trump’s term. So, if he was able to accomplish this, and at this point the prediction markets say there’s actually a majority chance, though close to 50/50, this, I think, would bring his legacy even higher. BERMAN: So, this is — shows some confidence, I think, with people looking ahead at what they think Trump does on foreign policy. ENTEN: You’ve got that exactly right, Mr. Berman. BERMAN: Harry Enten, great to see you. Thank you very much. ENTEN: Nice to see you, my friend.








