CNN data analyst Harry Enten quickly disputed President Trump’s upbeat economic claims during an 18-minute address, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Enten noted inflation stood at 3% in both January and September, while unemployment rose from 4.0% in January to 4.6% in November. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows low public confidence — 20% for inflation and 27% for jobs — and Trump’s net economic approval has fallen to -25 points.
CNN Data Analyst Rapidly Rebuts Trump’s Optimistic Economic Claims
Trump touted his economic policies in a national address on Wednesday night. / Doug Mills/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten moved quickly to challenge President Donald Trump’s upbeat portrayal of the U.S. economy during an 18-minute live national address. Enten used official data to counter several of the president’s central claims, offering a more measured view of inflation, employment and public opinion.
“When I took office, inflation was the worst in 48 years—and some would say in the history of our country—which caused prices to be higher than ever before, making life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans. This happened during a Democrat administration, and it’s when we first began hearing the word ‘affordability,’”Trump said in the address.
Enten responded by noting that the inflation rate was 3% in September — the same rate recorded in January at the start of Trump’s second term. Citing figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, he warned that "prices have not, in fact, fallen according to the broadest measure of the inflation rate."
Trump also claimed a wave of investment has returned to the United States, bringing “jobs, wage increases, growth, factory openings, and far greater national security.” Enten pointed to labour-market data that show a different picture: unemployment rose from 4.0% in January to 4.2% in May and 4.6% in November — the highest rate since 2021.
Public sentiment offers further evidence of skepticism. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 20% of respondents believe the U.S. is on the right track in handling inflation, and only 27% feel the same about jobs. At the same time, Trump’s net approval on the economy has swung from +6 points at the start of his second term to -25 points.
“Donald Trump was elected to fix the economy. It was a strength for him during his first term, but at this point, it is an anchor on him,”Enten said.
“And that is why we’re seeing poll after poll after poll showing him with a net negative approval rating, and in some polls, the worst approval rating he has had in his entire second term.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
