CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten on Monday argued that Donald Trump could be “jealous” of Pope Leo XIV’s positive polling with Americans following the president’s online attack against the first U.S.-born pontiff. (Check out Enten’s analysis below.)
“I believe the president is making a humongous mistake going after the most popular guy in America, at least well-known guy,” Enten said.
Leo’s net popularity rating (percent who have a very or somewhat positive view of him minus those who have a very or somewhat negative view) is a home run with Americans, as he boasts a net approval rating of +34 points, per an NBC News poll published in March.
That figure made him the most popular person tested with Americans, Enten noted. Trump’s numbers were underwater, as he held a net popularity rating of -12 in the same poll.
“It’s a nearly 50-point blowout amongst the American public at large,” Enten highlighted.
Trump’s attack, unprecedented in modern times among U.S. presidents, has faced condemnation from at least one Catholic leader serving on his administration’s Religious Liberty Commission.
The controversial post arrives as the president is “struggling” with American Catholics in the polls, Enten noted, with a net approval rating of -4, according to a Fox News poll published last month.
Enten then turned to the Iran war.
The pope has called for peace and, in the wake of Trump’s attack, told reporters on Monday he’ll continue to “speak out loudly” against the conflict.
Trump has since insisted that he doesn’t owe Leo an apology, as the pope said “things that are wrong.”
The data chief later flagged recent Fox News figures showing that U.S. military action against Iran is at a -10 net approval rating with American Catholics.
The group is “even more sour” toward Trump’s handling of Iran (-20), he noted.
“Trump’s losing a lot of ground … and this ain’t going to help,” Enten concluded.
