CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman delivered a stark assessment of President Trump's political standing on Monday, telling viewers that the president's approval ratings have sunk to unprecedented depths as the midterm elections draw closer.
“There is no polling where this president is popular. Let's put it that way,” Haberman said during an appearance on CNN's “The Source” with Kaitlan Collins. She added, “And there is no polling where he is not in trouble on the issue of affordability.”
Haberman's comments came after Collins highlighted fresh CNN polling showing Trump with a net approval rating of negative 32 percentage points, a figure notably worse than the Republican Party's overall negative 21 points. The data reflects a president struggling under the weight of a prolonged international conflict and persistent economic anxieties.
The polls indicate that Trump's approval has fallen to its lowest point across both his terms in office, as the unpopular Iran war enters its sixth month and Americans continue to grapple with rising prices. Haberman, a reporter for The New York Times, acknowledged that public surveys don't always align with private polling she's reviewed, but she emphasized that the overall picture remains grim for the president, particularly on the cost of living.
She pointed to an Oval Office event on healthcare earlier Monday, where administration officials repeatedly invoked “affordability”—a term Trump has previously dismissed as a “hoax” pushed by Democrats. “That is the kind of thing that Republicans who are in these districts that are embattled do not want to be dealing with,” Haberman said.
The president and GOP leadership have nonetheless made Trump a central figure in the party's midterm strategy, betting that his base will turn out in force. Trump has urged voters to pretend he is “on the ballot” in November, a plea aimed at boosting turnout among his most loyal supporters.
Haberman's relationship with Trump has been fraught, with the president repeatedly attacking her coverage, once calling her “Maggot Haberman.” His recent ire was sparked by a Times story reporting that Trump plans to skip the 25th anniversary ceremony for the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, opting instead to attend the Irish Open after event organizers denied his request to speak. Speeches by politicians at the ceremony have been banned since 2012. Trump responded by accusing Haberman of “false reporting” and demanding she “turn over any and all money” earned from her work.
As the midterms approach, the president's unpopularity poses a significant challenge for Republican candidates in competitive districts. For more on the political dynamics, see Trump's approval staying at record lows amid cost concerns, and how Trump's tactics echo Roy Cohn's ruthless style. The broader electoral landscape is also shaped by issues like Trump's meeting with oil executives and the Massachusetts primary, which could signal progressive strength.
