CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten delivered sobering news for Democrats regarding the ongoing government shutdown, noting that former President Donald Trump is weathering the political fallout more effectively than in the past. On Monday, Enten explained to CNN host John Berman that recent AP-NORC polling shows a stark contrast between the 2018\u201319 shutdown and the current one.<\/p>\n
\u201cShutdowns are different the second time around for Donald Trump,\u201d Enten said, pointing out that during the 2018\u201319 shutdown, Trump\u2019s net approval rating dropped quickly\u2014down three points within 20 days and continuing to decline. In contrast, this time around, Trump\u2019s approval has slightly improved, rising by one point.<\/p>\n
Enten highlighted a major shift in public blame. In 2018\u201319, 61% of Americans blamed Trump “a great deal” for the shutdown. Now, that number has fallen to 48%. \u201cIt\u2019s a different world,\u201d Enten said, noting that Trump is receiving significantly less blame, which helps maintain his political standing during the crisis.<\/p>\n
When asked if Trump is acting differently during this shutdown, Enten confirmed, emphasizing Trump\u2019s reliance on executive actions. \u201cHe\u2019s using his pen,\u201d Enten said, citing 210 executive orders already signed in this term\u2014compared to just 50 at the same point in 2017. Trump\u2019s current pace of executive orders is the highest since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.<\/p>\n
The bottom line: unlike the 2018\u201319 shutdown, the current one isn\u2019t hurting Trump politically. With public blame reduced and approval stable, Enten noted there\u2019s little political pressure on Trump to push for a quick resolution.<\/p>\n
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