Democrats Use Shutdown to Gain Ground Against Trump

Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump’s popularity has hit a historic low following the recent government shutdown, leading experts to suggest that Democrats may have prevailed during the standoff. CNN‘s Harry Enten revealed these insights on Tuesday, noting that Trump’s approval rating dropped from minus 10 percent to minus 15 percent since the end of the 43-day shutdown.

Enten, CNN’s chief data correspondent, discussed the implications of this decline with anchor John Berman. He emphasized that prior to the shutdown, Trump’s net approval rating was holding steady at minus 10 points. Now, it has plummeted to its lowest point during his second term.

“The shutdown might have initially helped Donald Trump, but now his ratings have sunk,” Enten stated, referencing a graphic showing the downward trend. He went on to compare Trump’s plummeting figures with an increase in Democratic support, noting that polling data illustrates this shift.

Before the shutdown, the Democrats led in the generic congressional ballot by three points. Currently, their lead has grown to five points, with even larger margins among likely voters. “The Democratic lead is widening,” Enten added, citing a recent Marquette University Law School poll that showed Democrats expanding their lead from five points to nine points.

“As Democrats feel good heading into the midterms, Trump’s political landscape continues to worsen,” he concluded. Enten referenced recent special elections in New Jersey and Virginia, suggesting that Democrats may be outperforming expectations going into 2026.

In contrast, Trump took to social media over the weekend to assert his own political success. “I HAVE JUST GOTTEN THE HIGHEST POLL NUMBERS OF MY CAREER,” he posted, without supporting data. “While my great work on the Economy has not yet been fully appreciated, it will be! Things are really Rockin’.”

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for further comments on this developing story.