President Trump blasted cable news but singled out CNN’s Harry Enten as “the best” with “credibility,” tying the praise to a striking popularity claim he liked.
Story Snapshot
- Trump praised CNN data reporter Harry Enten by name on Truth Social.
- Trump said Enten “has credibility” and urged CNN not to fire him.
- The post attacked CNN and another cable network while touting a pro-Trump data point.
- The move fits Trump’s pattern of amplifying analysts when their data favors him.
What Trump Said And Why It Stood Out
On August 29, President Trump posted on Truth Social that “the best person on CNN is Pollster Harry Enten,” adding, “He’s got Credibility (Don’t fire him!).” In the same post, Trump declared that CNN is in a “death spiral” and claimed Enten “was willing to show that Donald J. Trump is six times more popular than Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or any other President”. The praise stood out because Trump attacked the network while backing one of its data voices.
Reports from Mediaite, a Spanish-language wire item, and an international outlet each reproduced the key lines from the post, including the “death spiral,” the “best person on CNN,” and the “credibility” remarks. These accounts align on timing and wording, anchoring the event in a specific date and message. The reports did not include a response from CNN or Harry Enten. They also did not present the full CNN segment that Trump said supported his claim.
Who Harry Enten Is And How His Work Is Used
Harry Enten is a senior political data reporter at CNN. He focuses on polling and election trends and hosts a data podcast for the network. Trump has previously highlighted Enten segments or clips when the data seemed to help his message on endorsements or standing with voters. This shows how a single analyst’s segment can become a political signal. Politicians from both parties often share favorable clips while dismissing the rest of a network’s coverage.
That selective sharing reflects today’s media incentives. Public trust in major media is near historic lows, which encourages people to lean on parts they already agree with. Recent surveys put trust in the mass media in the low thirties or even below, depending on the year and poll design. In that climate, leaders label certain reporters as credible when the numbers match their story and ignore them when they do not.
Why This Moment Resonates Beyond Cable News
Trump’s message came as both conservatives and liberals voice deep worry that institutions are not serving the public well. Many see a political class that protects itself first. A president praising a single analyst while blasting the network taps that mood. It says the system is broken but one truth teller slipped through. That pitch can ring familiar to viewers who feel let down by big media and by government performance.
There are limits to what we can say from the record here. The reports verify Trump’s praise and the language he used. They do not confirm the exact CNN segment or whether “six times more popular” reflects Enten’s wording or Trump’s framing of a data point. They also do not show any reaction from CNN or a change in coverage. For now, the clear fact is the post itself and how it fits Trump’s ongoing media strategy.
Sources:
mediaite.com, independent.co.uk, trumpstruth.org, yahoo.com, lanacion.com.ar
