Recent polling has been tough for President Donald Trump. But Thursday brought him a glimmer of hope from CNN’s Harry Enten. Surprisingly, people still support the idea of DOGE, despite the chaos surrounding it. This news caught Enten off guard. He noted that 54% of those surveyed believe that Elon Musk and DOGE should have an impact on government spending. Furthermore, 51% support Trump’s efforts to reduce staff in government agencies.
Enten mentioned that even if Musk isn’t hugely popular, the notion of cutting government waste resonates with many. He pointed out that while Democrats argue these cuts impact necessary programs, only 36% of people agree with that stance. In fact, 42% believe wasteful spending is the real issue, which helps explain why there’s majority support for Musk’s influence.
The public’s perception of government spending is shifting. In 2020, when Trump lost the election, 54% thought the government was doing too little. By 2024, that number flipped to 55% believing it’s doing too much. This change suggests a push for reduced government involvement, giving Musk and DOGE a stronger voice for some Americans.
These positive attitudes towards DOGE come after a streak of disappointing polling for Trump. On the economy, the numbers were bleak. Enten highlighted that only 36% think Trump prioritizes economic issues, while a staggering 82% believe he should. This disconnect indicates that many feel Trump isn’t focusing on the economy as much as they expect him to.
The stock market’s recent downturn may also affect Trump’s approval ratings. Enten emphasized the importance of stock ownership in shaping people’s views on the economy. With 61% of Americans employed and 62% owning stocks, the state of the stock market is critical. If it continues to fall, Trump’s approval may drop along with it.
Enten briefly commented on Trump’s speech to Congress, noting a slight bounce in approval ratings afterward. However, he warned that this was just a temporary bump and significant changes in economic perceptions are needed for Trump to see sustainable improvements in his approval ratings.
Historical comparisons show Trump’s current net approval rating of just +1 is much worse than the average president at this stage, which sits around +27. The only time Trump scored lower was during his first term, making this a troubling trend for his presidency.
Trump’s handling of the economy is particularly concerning, with a current net rating of -4 points, significantly lower than the average of +15 points. This downward trajectory could jeopardize Trump’s overall approval rating if it persists.
Moreover, polling about tariffs shows that most Americans oppose them—64% against tariffs with Canada and 59% with Mexico. As the economy remains a pressing issue, these tariffs could worsen Trump’s already low approval numbers, especially since rising prices are unpopular among voters.
