CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said Monday that President Donald Trump has some of the “best political instincts” he’s ever seen when it comes to public opinion.
Enten noted Google searches for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are down 89% from three weeks ago, suggesting Americans have moved on from the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files. He said Trump’s instincts are evident as he maintains a high approval rating.
“I would just say this: Donald Trump has some of the best political instincts of any politician I’ve seen,” Enten said. “On this particular issue, you see it full well and clear because he has been saying, ‘You know what, [the Epstein files] is not an issue,’ and it turns out a lot of the American public actually seem to agree with him.”
Trump’s approval rating is at 44% as of Monday — seven points higher than in August 2017 during his first term. A July CNN/SSRS poll found just one Republican voter listed Epstein as their top issue, while no Democrats or Independents named the case as a political priority.
“[Trump’s approval] is still well within that margin of error here of 44% and you compare that to where he was in his first term at this point, he was 37%,” Enten said. “So he’s seven points higher, very much in a different political universe now. It’s significantly higher in terms of his overall approval rating than he was at this point in his first term … So no, he hasn’t lost any of that base and when it comes to that center of the electorate, he’s basically holding on there and his overall approval rating, 44%, is pretty darn gosh good for him considering where he was at this point in term number one.”
Watch the clip below:
The Epstein saga is becoming a political dud & nothingburger.
-Google searches for Epstein are down 89% from just 3 weeks ago.
-Trump's approval rating is holding steady & much higher than term 1 at this point in his presidency
-Less than 1% say it's the nation's top issue pic.twitter.com/rnp2M8qzdf— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) August 11, 2025
