'Trump still has the juice': CNN's Harry Enten says reports of GOP erosion are 'a myth'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Despite growing speculation that President Donald Trump may be losing his grip on Republican voters ahead of the midterms, CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten, argued on Thursday, May 7, that the numbers tell a very different story.

Appearing on CNN, Enten pushed back on what he called a growing “myth” in political circles, insisting Trump remains not just popular inside the GOP but politically dominant.

Harry Enten admits that Trump is still popular

During an appearance on CNN News Central with anchor Kate Bolduan, Enten used fresh polling and recent primary data to argue that Trump’s hold over Republican voters remains largely intact, even as national debates, including the administration’s handling of Iran, have sparked political turbulence.

Enten pointed to recent developments in Indiana as evidence that Republican officials who openly challenge Trump still face major political consequences.

“As Indiana goes, so goes the nation when it comes to Republican voters and Donald John Trump,” Enten said, adding, “He absolutely still has the juice.”

Using a pop-culture analogy, Enten argued that Republicans who defy Trump are still paying a political price.

“When you're a Republican and you go against Trump, you get voted off the island,” he said. “You go adios amigos, goodbye, see you later.” 

Enten then turned to polling averages to challenge the narrative that Trump’s support is fading.

According to the CNN analyst, Trump’s approval among Republicans currently sits around 84 percent nationally, almost identical to where he stood during previous midterm cycles.

He noted that Trump was polling at roughly 85 percent among Republicans in 2018, when he was also in the White House, and even lower, around 76 percent during the 2022 cycle when he was out of office.

“The bottom line is Donald Trump still absolutely has juice with Republican voters,” Enten concluded.

MAGA voters remain in Trump's hands

Beyond approval numbers, Enten argued that Trump’s biggest strength may be enthusiasm.

He said voters who strongly identify with the MAGA movement are significantly more motivated than other Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms.

According to polling highlighted during the segment, roughly 60 percent of MAGA Republicans say voting in 2026 is more important than a typical midterm election, compared to just 36 percent of non-MAGA Republicans.

Enten described Trump’s core supporters as the voters most likely to dominate primaries.

“They would go over hot coals to vote in those primaries,” he said, explaining why anti-Trump Republicans continue to struggle electorally.

He also pointed to another data point showing how much influence Trump still carries over the party’s direction.

According to Enten, about 75 percent of Republican voters believe party leaders should follow Trump’s lead far higher than the 57 percent of Democrats who said the same about former President Joe Biden at a similar point in his term.