CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten emphasized the weakness of President Donald Trump’s net approval rating as he prepares for his State of the Union address this week. (Watch Enten’s analysis in the clip below.)
Enten compared Trump’s low polling numbers to the snowstorm in the Northeast, saying, “My goodness gracious, the snow is up to the knees here in New York City. And Trump seems to be well underneath it at this point.”
According to a CNN/SSRS poll released on Monday, Trump’s net approval rating is at -27 points leading up to his speech to Congress.
This figure represents a significant decline from his net approval ratings in previous years, with ratings of -15 in 2018, 2019, and -10 in 2020 before his State of the Union addresses.
Enten pointed out that Trump is at his weakest point heading into a State of the Union address based on CNN polling data. He also mentioned that Trump’s net approval rating is considerably lower than that of his predecessors this century, with George W. Bush at -11 and Barack Obama at -15 at the same point in their second terms.
When asked about the reasons behind Trump’s drop in polling numbers, Enten highlighted that the president is facing his lowest approval rating among independents. Trump’s net approval rating with independents has plummeted from -13 to -47 since February 2025.
“When you’re 47 points underwater with independents, that’s the name of the game, you can’t be above water overall,” Enten explained. “And that’s why Donald Trump is near record lows overall and the lowest he’s ever been going into a State of the Union address.”
For more insights, you can watch the clip below for Harry Enten’s detailed analysis:
