Recent polling data reveals that the majority of polled Americans do not perceive President Donald Trump as wielding excessive power, countering assertions by some Democrats that he acts like “a king.” Many respondents indicated that they believe Trump holds either the right amount of authority or insufficient power, contrasting with narratives promoted by certain Democratic leaders.
CNN analyst Harry Enten recently said, “So the idea, that argument that Donald Trump is ‘a king,’ that I don’t think holds with the American people.”
Since returning to office in January, Trump has signed over 100 executive orders, which Enten noted is the highest number at this stage in a presidency in at least a century. Despite this significant number of executive actions, polling indicates that public concern over presidential overreach is lower than some Democrats might think.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll released on April 21 reported Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 42%, the lowest since his return to the presidency. While many Americans expressed caution about specific efforts to expand presidential power, such as influencing cultural institutions or withholding funding from universities, these concerns have not translated into a broader belief that the president has excessive power.
More notable is the change in public perception of the two major political parties. Polls reveal that Americans now view the Republican Party as caring for citizens as much as the Democratic Party, with the latest Quinnipiac poll indicating that support for both parties is now equal.
Enten described this as one of the most surprising pieces of poll data he has seen this year, or possibly in any previous year. This marks a significant shift, as the Democratic Party has traditionally led on questions of which party is more concerned about citizens.
The data shows a significant increase in support for Republicans among non-college-educated voters, who have gained nine percentage points in recent years. By contrast, support among college-educated voters has remained relatively constant.
The Democratic Party, once significantly favored in perceptions of caring for citizens, has seen its lead greatly diminish. Recent polling shows that the Democratic Party’s advantage has shrunk from seven points to just one point.
According to Gallup, the Republican Party has maintained a slight advantage in party affiliation for the third consecutive year. In 2024, 46% of Americans identified as Republican or leaning Republican, compared to 45% identifying as Democrats. This shift has been driven by increased Republican identification among various demographic groups, including Hispanic Americans, young adults, and those without college degrees.
The Pew Research Center analysis of partisan identification from 1994 to 2023 confirms that partisan coalitions are increasingly diverse. The Democratic Party has become more racially and ethnically diverse compared to the Republican Party, while the gap in partisanship between college-educated and non-college-educated voters has widened.
These shifts in party perception could have significant implications for upcoming midterm elections. Looking ahead to the midterms, Enten cautioned that if Democrats assume they have an automatic path back to control of the House, they should “hold on a second.”
The 2022 midterm elections resulted in Republicans gaining control of the House with 222 seats compared to 213 for Democrats. This narrow Republican majority came despite predictions of a “red wave,” with several factors, including the abortion issue, candidate quality, and youth turnout, contributing to Democrats performing better than expected.
Public satisfaction with the direction of the country has shown stark partisan divides since Trump’s return to office. Republican satisfaction with the state of the nation surged from 10% in January to 68% in February, while Democratic satisfaction dropped from 32% to 5%. This 58-point increase in Republican satisfaction represents the largest increase Gallup has measured between surveys since 1991.
Trump’s second term has seen his approval rating average 45%, slightly higher than the 42% average during the same period in his first term. This improvement has been driven by increased support among Republicans, conservatives, men, and minority groups, offsetting decreased support from Democrats, liberals, and seniors.
Despite these findings, Enten pointed out on Tuesday, April 22, that the majority of Americans would hold President Trump accountable if a recession were to occur within the next year.
“If Donald Trump thinks he can avoid being blamed in the event of a recession, let me offer a reality check,” Enten remarked during an interview with CNN’s Kate Bolduan.
During the economic shifts resulting from Trump’s tariffs, Enten observed that the S&P 500, established in 1957, experienced its steepest decline under Trump compared to any other president at the same stage of their term.
“No other elected president at this point in their presidency saw a drop of 5% or more. So Donald Trump is on a planet all by himself, a planet you do not want to be on,” he said.
