Trump hit with 'type of thing that ruins presidents' as data show huge drop-off in support

President Donald Trump likes to boast that he's created a historic economy, but new polling shows he may be on the wrong side of history.

The 79-year-old president was re-elected to a second term in 2024 largely on the basis of his economic message, but CNN's Harry Enten presented polling data that shows Americans have not liked seeing those policies in action.

"The president is making history on the economy, at least how Americans feel about it, and the completely wrong way," Enten said. "What are we talking about here? Well, let's take a look at Trump's net approval rating on the economy. Look at where he is today: Way, way down there, minus-32 points, and the net approval rating at the beginning of term two. Remember, Trump got a term two because voters trusted him more on the economy than Kamala Harris. He was at plus-six – that's a nearly 40-point drop and a little bit more than a year's time, and look at where he was at term one at this point. He was at plus-two points."

"Remember, the economy was a strength for him in term one at this point. It was a strength for him throughout his entire term one, but in term number two, it has become absolutely an anchor that is dragging him down to a historic degree," he added.

Trump has hit a historic low for economic approval, and Enten sees evidence that could get even worse.

"I'm a student of history – I like reading those history books, I like going through the spreadsheets, and just take a look here," Enten said. "He's not just the lowest at this point at any point in either of his presidencies, but he is at the lowest, he has the worst net approval rating at this point in any term for any president. Look at this: He's at minus-32 points now. Joe Biden, of course, Donald Trump loved to rip Joe Biden in the economy. Joe Biden, though, was at minus-25, seven points better. How about George W. Bush minus-25 points, again, seven points better than Donald Trump, and of course, Donald Trump loves to rip on James Earl Carter, but James Earl Carter, Jimmy Carter, was at minus-22 points, 10 points better than Donald Trump is right now. So again, Donald Trump making the type of history that no president likes to make."

"If you think this minus-32 points is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet, because just take a look at independents," Enten added. "Oh my, oh my ... look at this: Trump's economic net approval rating among independents, he's at minus-55 points. Ladies and gentlemen minus-55 points, 55 points underwater. Look at that. He was a plus one, he was a plus one in January of 2025. That's a 56-point drop, and in term number one he was breaking even at zero, so he's 55 points lower. The bottom line is the reason why the general electorate is leaving. Donald Trump is being driven, the car is being totally driven by independents absolutely abandoning him. He is down there with the Titanic at this point."

There's not really a precedent for the drop-off in support that Trump has experienced, Enten said.

"This this is the type of stuff where you're reading the history books, when you're looking back, and go, 'Whoa, that could never happen again,'" Enten said, "and that is the type of thing that absolutely ruins presidents."

"Take a look at the Kalshi prediction market chances," he added. "April CPI year-over-year is above March's 3.3 percent, 98 percent chance. That's not 100, but it's pretty gosh-darn close. The bottom line is this the economy for Donald Trump is his Waterloo."