On Saturday, former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare that recent polls indicate he is "six times more popular than Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or any other president" who has led the nation. This bold statement is grounded in data from a survey conducted exclusively among Republican voters.
In the same post, Trump praised Harry Enten, a CNN data analyst, for sharing these poll results, while simultaneously criticizing both CNN and MSNBC — the latter of which he mockingly referred to as "MSNOW." Trump claimed both networks are in a "death spiral" and losing viewership.
"The best person at CNN is pollster Harry Enten because he was willing to show that Donald J. Trump is six times more popular than Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or any other president. He's credible (Don't fire him!)," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The survey Trump referenced was conducted by CNN in partnership with SSRS from May 7 to 31, 2026, sampling 2,480 adults with a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points for the full sample. Among the 1,200-plus respondents identifying as Republicans — with a ±5.2 point margin of error for this subgroup — 53% named Trump as the president they admire most, compared to 18% for Ronald Reagan, 8% for Lincoln, and 5% for Washington.
The "six times more popular" claim arises from dividing Trump's percentage by that of Lincoln or Washington, yet the poll notably excludes non-Republicans, significantly limiting the scope of Trump's assertion.
When presenting the data on CNN, Enten accurately highlighted what the figures genuinely reflect: "This is a dose of reality; Donald Trump remains the central figure around which the Republican Party revolves."
Enten also referenced a poll from Elon University, which yielded similar findings, underscoring Trump's strong support within his base, though not beyond it.
The scenario shifts dramatically when the survey scope broadens. As of April 2026, Trump's overall approval among all American adults hovered around 37%, with a disapproval rate of 63%, according to NBC News/SurveyMonkey.
Furthermore, an August 2026 survey by Financial Times and Focaldata indicated that Trump’s net approval among Republican voters had dropped eight points from the previous month, signaling potential erosion even within his own party.
Enten had previously noted in another context that Trump had over 494 consecutive days with a net negative approval rating in polls meeting CNN’s methodological standards, a stark contrast to the historic popularity narrative Trump promotes online.
Understanding Trump's Popularity Claims
What was the basis for Trump's claim of being six times more popular?
Trump's claim is based on a poll conducted among Republican voters, where 53% favored him over other presidents like Lincoln or Washington, whose support was significantly lower.
How reliable are these popularity claims?
The claims are limited as they only reflect the opinions of Republican voters and do not consider the broader American public, thus not providing a comprehensive view of overall popularity.
What did Harry Enten highlight about the poll results?
Harry Enten pointed out that the numbers show Trump as a pivotal figure within the Republican Party, but they don't necessarily reflect his standing with the general public.
How has Trump's approval rating changed over time?
Trump's approval rating has seen fluctuations, with a recent drop in net approval among Republican voters and a consistent net negative approval rating over a long period.