'This is no bueno': CNN pollster flummoxed over Trump's plans to 'lean in' on tariffs
CNN polling analyst Harry Enten was taken aback when anchor Brianna Keilar said President Donald Trump planned to put the spotlight on his much-maligned tariffs during Tuesday night's address before Congress.
By way of introduction, Keilar said a new CNN poll showed that 52% of Americans now disapprove of Trump's performance in office, while 48% approve.
"A senior adviser says the president plans to lean in to tariffs during tonight's address," Keilar added.
"Yea, I don't know why Trump would be wanting to do that tonight. Let's take a look here at the economic approval rating for Donald Trump — and it's terrible! It's awful!" Enten exclaimed.
"Look, the bottom line is this: he is at this particular point when you are looking at his overall on the averages...that is the second worst — the only person he beats is actually himself! Is actually himself, who is at minus eight," Enten said referring to Trump in 2017.
Enten said that the "average president" going into their first address before Congress is at +27 points.
ALSO READ: 'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight
"And the question is, okay, can Trump actually solve this problem, this hole that he is in compared to the average president, by looking at where he would be on tariffs. And what do we see on tariffs? Americans oppose tariffs on Canada. Look at this! Sixty-four percent — that's nearly two-thirds of the nation who oppose it!"
Enten went on that 59 percent of Americans oppose Trump's tariffs on Mexico. His overall economic approval rating on average, Enten said, is minus four points.
"He is the lowest of any president going into his first address before Congress on history! So, the tariffs will only sink him further, in my opinion."
Enten then shifted to "the real question" of whether Trump is "prioritizing the economy." And, while 82 percent of Americans say he should prioritize the economy, only 36 percent said he actually is.
"You don't have to be a mathematical genius to know that 36 is far less than 82," Enten quipped. "This is a massive problem, because if he was put in charge to fix the economy, just 36 percent say he's he's prioritizing it, his net approval rating on the economy is already at minus four, and his overall approval rating is going down. His net approval negative in our CNN poll, right around zero. Overall, this is this is no bueno. This is not good. And, so, we'll see if tonight he's able to turn it around at all. But consider me a little doubtful."
Watch the clip below via CNN.