CNN data analyst Harry Enten dropped a stunning reality check about the current political landscape on Wednesday, August 26. During an appearance with John Berman, he presented poll numbers that illustrate just how thoroughly Donald Trump has reshaped the Republican Party.
The numbers showed that a majority of Republicans now admire Trump far more than they did Ronald Reagan or Abraham Lincoln, two figures who shaped the Republican party in the past.
“This is a historic comparison. A majority of Republicans say — 53% say — he is the Republican president they most admire. Reagan, who traditionally has won that match, Trump nearly triples up on this. Reagan at just 18%.
“And then Abraham Lincoln, who by most historic accounts is the greatest president of all time, but Republicans say that the president that they most admire by six, seven times as many is Donald John Trump at 53%. Easily crushing Abe Lincoln at 8%,” Enten added.
Enten details Trump’s popularity
Enten noted that since 2022, Trump-backed candidates who were not elected incumbents have won about 95% of GOP Senate primaries, with that record reaching 100% in the 2026 cycle.
He pointed to Darline Graham‘s South Carolina victory as Trump’s strongest endorsement yet.
“This was his most impressive endorsement to date in terms of getting someone actually nominated because she basically stood no chance,” he said, adding, “Trump’s name is still the one that GOP voters buy when it comes to Senate endorsements”
“This is a reality check for you,” Enten said. “That is, Donald Trump is still the sun on which the planets of the GOP revolve around.”
Where Trump’s popularity comes from
Republicans told pollsters repeatedly that they backed Trump’s immigration agenda above nearly everything else. Throughout 2026, immigration consistently ranked as his strongest issue with GOP voters, even as support for his positions on the economy wavered.
His 2024 campaign promises on deportation and border strengthened his popularity.
Trump’s tax policies also maintained backing from party supporters, particularly among higher-income Republicans and business-aligned voters. Also contributing to his popularity includes his aggressive tariff strategy aimed at protecting domestic manufacturing and countering unfair trade practices.
Trump policies people criticize
Outside the Republican bubble, Trump faced intense criticism for nearly everything he did in his second term. His economic record became a genuine vulnerability as inflation persisted and voters blamed his tariff policies for rising prices.
Grocery prices increased, with housing prices reaching an all time high — so much so that vice president J.D. Vance has also complained about the expenses brought on by the Trump government.
Democrats and independents remained deeply skeptical of Trump’s approach to immigration, which they characterized as cruel and impractical. His international relations record drew fire from those who felt he was destabilizing long-standing alliances and relationships.
Trump remains less popular among former Democratic presidents
Among Republicans specifically, Trump’s admirability numbers are pretty high but when the conversation shifts to cross-party appeal, the numbers inverted entirely.
Barack Obama, despite no longer holding office, maintained a 56 percent favorability rating among independents. Trump’s favorability with independents sat at 25 percent. Obama pulled in positive ratings even from roughly one in five Republicans while Trump could barely achieve single-digit support from Democrats.