Trump’s Political Instincts Under Scrutiny
Harry Enten, a senior data reporter at CNN, remarked on Monday that President Donald Trump possesses some of the “best political instincts” when it comes to gauging public opinion.
Enten noted that searches related to Jeffrey Epstein and sex offenders have plummeted by 89% compared to three weeks ago. He suggested that this reflects a shift in public interest away from the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein files. According to Enten, Trump’s ability to read the political landscape remains strong.
“I firmly believe that Donald Trump has some of the best political instincts I’ve ever seen. Regarding [the Epstein files], it doesn’t seem to be a significant issue. Apparently, many Americans agree with him,” Enten stated.
As of Monday, Trump’s approval rating stands at 44%, which is notably higher than it was in August 2017 during his first term. One Republican voter commented in a CNN/SSRS poll about how Epstein was viewed as a major concern, yet no Democrats or independents identified it as a key political priority.
“[Trump’s approval] isn’t set in stone at 44%, but you mentioned it was 37% back in his first term at this time,” Enten explained. He added that Trump’s overall recognition rating is significantly better than it was during the same period in his prior term, which illustrates a kind of resilience.
Following extensive media coverage of the Epstein case and the administration’s assertion that Epstein’s death was a suicide—which did not involve a so-called “client list”—a controversial relationship between Trump and various alleged offenders came to light. Attorney General Pam Bondy mentioned documents tied to multiple cases, hinting that a client list might still exist.
Trump has been vocal in criticizing journalists and the general public for their focus on the Epstein narrative. He even launched a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal when it claimed that he had painted a nude woman on his 50th birthday.
Both the Daily Beast and Democratic strategist James Carville later retracted claims regarding First Lady Melania Trump’s alleged connections to Epstein.
In remarks to reporters on July 29, Trump asserted that he distanced himself from Epstein after discovering that sex offenders were employing female workers at his spa, including a 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who he claimed had been hired for illicit activities.
