CNN’s top data analyst admitted live on-air that the American public now sees the Republican Party as caring just as much about regular people as Democrats—a major shift, even after Trump reignited a trade war with tariffs.
Key Facts: Trump Popularity Shifts Public Perception
- CNN’s Harry Enten called recent poll data showing parity between GOP and Democrats on empathy “shocking.”
- Historically, Democrats had a large advantage in public trust on caring for citizens (+19 in 1994, +23 in 2005, +13 in 2017).
- A new Quinnipiac poll now shows a tie between the parties on this question—after Trump launched new tariffs.
- Republicans gained 16 points among non-college-educated voters compared to 2017, moving from -7 to +9.
- In a hypothetical 2026 midterm matchup, Democrats’ edge dropped from +7 in 2017 to just +1 today.
The Rest of the Story: Voter Sentiment Defies Beltway Expectations
CNN’s Harry Enten said Friday that he was stunned to see poll numbers showing Republicans and Democrats are now tied when voters are asked which party cares more about Americans.
This question has long favored Democrats, but the latest Quinnipiac survey shows a dramatic change—despite Trump’s rollout of controversial tariffs.
Enten pointed out that the GOP’s biggest gains came from working-class Americans without college degrees.
In 2017, Democrats led that group by 7 points.
Today, Republicans lead by 9—a total swing of 16 points.
Meanwhile, college-educated voters have not shifted, remaining +18 for Democrats.
The segment closed with Enten warning Democrats not to assume an easy path back to House control.
If the midterms were held now, Democrats would hold only a slim +1 edge.
In 2017, that number was +7.
Commentary: Trump’s Agenda Still Resonates With Voters
What’s shocking to Harry Enten isn’t shocking to those living outside the media echo chamber.
Americans aren’t buying the anti-Trump narrative.
Despite the media’s portrayal of the tariff push as political suicide, the numbers show strong working-class support for Trump’s policies.
The left continues to misread the room.
People care about results, not media outrage.
Trump promised to put America first—on trade, on jobs, and on national pride—and he’s done exactly that.
Voters are rewarding follow-through.
In an era when most politicians break their campaign pledges, Trump kept his.
The working class—the forgotten backbone of the country—knows when someone is speaking to them, not down to them.
That’s why the GOP has surged among non-college-educated Americans.
These are people who have lived through decades of broken promises from both parties.
Trump’s tariffs aren’t about “theatrics,” as Enten put it.
They’re about rebalancing a system that has punished American industry and workers for years.
The media may hate it.
Elites may mock it.
But voters see a leader willing to take the heat for their benefit.
In the end, it’s not surprising that people believe Republicans care.
It’s surprising it took the data elite this long to notice.
The Bottom Line: Trump Popularity and Working-Class Gains Shift Polls
Despite renewed criticism over tariffs, Donald Trump and the GOP have narrowed the trust gap with voters—a space long dominated by Democrats.
Key poll swings among working-class voters show that “America First” still strikes a chord.
If this trend continues, the 2026 midterms may not unfold the way coastal pundits expect.
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