Gas prices are shooting up due to President Donald Trump's war with Iran, and CNN's Harry Enten said that's exacerbating the Republican Party's problems with affordability.
Higher costs of living remains a top concern for most Americans, and rising fuel costs could send up prices across the board and hurt the GOP's chances in November's midterm elections, based on the latest polling.
"I would say that this is the most troublesome sign that I have seen for the president of the United States and the Republican Party so far," Enten said. "What are we talking about? Well, let's take a look here: Voters on Trump and the cost of living, you know, back when he was re-elected back in October of 2024, he was beating Kamala Harris by 3 points on the cost of living, right? Look at his net approval rating now – whoo, down underwater we go. His net approval at a record low 41 points below water. You can't win when you're at 41 points below water on the cost of living. Kamala Harris couldn't win, the Democratic Party couldn't win, and I'm here to tell you that there's a better chance that I root for the New York Yankees than Donald Trump and the Republican Party winning when he's 41 points below water."
Those numbers are even worse with the independent voters who tend to decide elections.
"You think this 41 points below water is bad?" Enten said. "Take a look at independents, it's even worse. I mean, 60 points under water when it comes to Trump and the cost of living among independents – again, a record low. You go back to October of 2024. He was winning on this issue over Kamala Harris by 11 points, look at that switcheroo, that is a 71-point switcheroo in the wrong direction for Donald Trump when we're coming to the cost of living and independents, and this, my dear friends, is just a political nightmare waiting to happen for the Republican Party come the midterm elections."
"You cannot win if you're the president and you're the Republican Party and you're not addressing this issue," he added. "Wave adios amigos – goodbye, see you later to your House majority and may very well be your Senate majority, as well."
- YouTube youtu.be
