The White House will latch onto any morsel of favorable coverage it can locate in the mainstream press when discussing President Donald Trump and the sagging approval ratings he holds with most of the country.
Referring to an NBC News poll, Enten informed CNN’s “News Central” audience that MAGA Republicans cherish him.
“There are moments when the polling numbers leap off the page — and this is one of those moments,” the statistician remarked, as reported by The New York Post.
“You don’t need to be a prodigy of numbers to see you can’t surpass 100%,” he quipped.
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“He’s the 1972 Miami Dolphins,” Enten added, alluding to the lone NFL squad that completed an undefeated season.
The CNN analyst continued, noting that although some Republicans may withhold support for Trump, they aren’t MAGA adherents.
“The bottom line is straightforward: if you belong to MAGA, you approve of Donald Trump,” he asserted.
He added that Trump’s backing is far from fracturing, with the GOP base described as “not shrinking” and even “slightly larger” than it was two years prior.
A beaming Leavitt wasted no time capitalizing on the favorable snippet from a outlet the president habitually disparages.
“CNN’s data expert shows Trump’s base widening, with MAGA Republicans giving 100% support,” Leavitt posted on X later that day, accompanied by multiple images of Trump, including a screenshot of Enten discussing the poll.
The post sparked a social-media firestorm as commenters accused Leavitt of duplicity and called attention to the rhetoric she has echoed for years.
“I thought CNN was ‘fake news’?” a user named Elizabeth remarked on X.
Even Michael Flynn’s son weighed in, typing “WE LOVE CNN NOW!” accompanied by a wry laughing emoji.
Others appeared puzzled by Enten’s reading of the NBC poll results.
“That’s false. I’ve been a MAGA Republican from day one, and that poll doesn’t represent me,” a voter on X declared.
Another commenter wrote, “Incorrect. I voted for Trump three times and I’m a MAGA mom, and I do NOT support Trump or his war with Iran.”
Yet CNN’s take on the NBC poll is perplexing in other respects as well. Politico reported on March 19 that Trump’s MAGA base is indeed fragmenting and disputing, particularly over his decision to involve the United States in another foreign conflict — a stance he had heavily opposed during his bid for re-election.
Still, a more troubling issue for Trump’s inner circle is that it was precisely this MAGA bloc that delivered his victory. Politico described it as a coalition of disenchanted Democrats and independents, tech enthusiasts, and “MAHA moms.”
There is growing concern within Trump’s circle that divisive policy moves could erode that coalition, potentially jeopardizing Trump and the Republican slate in the forthcoming midterm elections.
