CNN viewers are demanding the removal of Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten after he described President Donald Trump as “the most influential president this century” during a weekend broadcast. The comment, which aired on August 3, 2025, sparked an immediate outcry from those calling for Enten to be fired.
Enten made his statement on CNN’s “Run The Numbers” with anchor Omar Jimenez, where they analyzed the effects of Trump’s policies. He explained that Trump is rapidly changing the nation with new tariffs, tougher immigration laws, and a surge in executive orders.
The uproar began when Jimenez mentioned the moniker “TACO”—short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—while discussing Trump’s track record on tariffs. Enten pushed back against this idea and supported his perspective with extensive data.
“No tacos for Trump when it comes to tariffs. Take a look: 18%—the highest tariff rate since the 1930s, Omar. That’s up from just 2 percent a year ago,” Enten shared on air.
He also addressed Trump’s immigration measures, noting major changes. Enten projected that net migration to the US could drop at least 60 percent from last year’s figure of 2.8 million. He further cautioned that the country might even experience negative net migration in 2025.
“We could actually see negative net migration to the US next year,” Enten said. “That would mark the first time in at least five decades that this trend has appeared.”
Enten went on to discuss Trump’s record-breaking use of executive orders. He highlighted that Trump had already signed 180 executive orders by mid-2025—far surpassing President Joe Biden’s 77 in his entire first year. Enten noted that this level of activity hadn’t occurred since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Wrapping up, Enten said Trump’s impact is truly historic. He used the phrase “Love it, like it, lump it” to emphasize that, regardless of personal feelings, the statistics point to unparalleled change.
Social media reactions followed quickly, with numerous viewers voicing strong opinions. Many in CNN’s audience expressed anger, urging the network to dismiss Enten. Some questioned whether he was endorsing Trump’s actions, particularly the tariff hikes that might raise costs for Americans.
One upset viewer posted on X, questioning whether Enten favored higher taxes, though the full statement wasn’t published. Others argued that Trump’s influence had been more harmful than helpful.
However, some viewers supported Enten’s conclusions. They stated the numbers speak for themselves and pointed to Trump’s broad voter support, highlighting the deep divide surrounding Trump’s leadership.
Enten’s situation stands out given CNN’s typically critical approach to Trump. Nonetheless, Enten focused exclusively on data and measurable outcomes, steering clear of personal opinions. His background as a data analyst lent further authority to his assessment.
Now 37, Enten graduated from Dartmouth College and previously worked at FiveThirtyEight, joining CNN in 2018. He currently hosts the “Margins of Error” podcast for CNN, which emphasizes a statistical view over traditional campaign reporting.
Trump’s policies, as highlighted by Enten, play a core role in his “America First” strategy. Trump has introduced new tariffs on imports, raising rates for specific countries. For example, tariffs on goods from Canada jumped from 25 percent to 35 percent after the administration claimed Canada hadn’t done enough to stem fentanyl smuggling.
The immigration statistics Enten cited reflect Trump’s stricter border enforcement and policies, resulting in the most significant migration changes in years.
This controversy exposes tensions between CNN’s typical editorial voice and data-driven reporting. Despite the network’s regular criticism of Trump, Enten’s segment was rooted in factual policy outcomes rather than partisan rhetoric.
The segment’s swift circulation online reveals a continuing fascination with Trump’s presidency and the impact of his policies. Clips and quotes from Enten’s analysis spread quickly on social media, drawing a wide range of reactions from the public.
