Donald Trump continues to enjoy robust support among Republican voters, with CNN’s latest data indicating that 87 percent of Republicans approve of the former president—a figure that has remained stable over the past six months.
This approval rating places Trump ahead of all other 21st-century presidents in terms of second-term party support, eclipsing both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who each held 78 percent approval from their respective party bases at the same point in their presidencies.
CNN’s Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten likened Trump’s steadfast approval to an unyielding force, referencing Bob Seger’s hit, “Like a Rock.” Enten highlighted that despite political shifts in other arenas, Trump’s backing within the Republican Party has remained unwavering.
In a recent CNN segment, Enten discussed Trump’s significant sway over Republican primary contests. The data reveal that candidates endorsed by Trump secured victories 98 percent of the time in 2020’s Republican congressional and gubernatorial primaries, with a 95 percent success rate in 2022 and 96 percent in 2024. “Facing Donald Trump,” Enten commented, “is like confronting a buzzsaw.”
This endorsement power is a critical factor for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who announced her resignation from Congress effective January. Prediction markets estimate a 31 percent chance she might leave the GOP by 2027. Although Greene mentioned her dissatisfaction with both political parties in her resignation statement, CNN’s Harry Enten suggested that challenging Trump in a Republican primary often leads to defeat, possibly influencing her decision.
During July and August, Trump’s approval among Republicans rose to 88 and 90 percent in CNN and Quinnipiac polls, respectively, despite social media’s focus on the Epstein case. Enten noted that although the topic was trending online, only a single Republican respondent listed it as a key national issue. Meanwhile, an Associated Press poll showed Trump’s overall job approval reaching a personal best of 45 percent following his deployment of the National Guard to combat violent crime in Washington, D.C.
