Understanding the contradictions in the president’s poll numbers.
When the cameras caught sight of President Donald Trump at Super Bowl LIX, a roar of approval erupted as his image hit the Jumbotron. While not a scientific poll by any means, such a spontaneous outburst is a signal that at the start of his second term, Trump appears to be doing something right. It’s not all roses and rainbows, but coming out of the gate, widespread polling illustrates that Americans are viewing their president very differently this time around.
CNN’s senior data reporter Harry Enten was incredulous as he tried to explain his aggregate of polls in 2017 versus 2025. It shows Trump’s net approval rating at -5 in the first month of his first term versus +4 points this time around. Numbers like this don’t make the people over at CNN very…
