President Donald Trump’s honeymoon period with American voters may soon come to an end, and the culprit could be the same issue that derailed President Joe Biden’s presidency: inflation. According to CNN data reporter Harry Enten, who sounded the alarm on Thursday, inflation poses a significant threat to Trump’s second term in office. “Let me be perfectly clear: Inflation crushed the Joe Biden presidency, it ate it alive,” Enten emphasized. He warned that if Trump is not careful, the same fate could await him. “Inflation will crush his presidency and eat it alive, because that is where Americans want him to be focused. They want him focused on fixing the inflation crisis, the inflation problem, and bringing prices down.”
The latest polling data underscores the gravity of the situation. A staggering 55% of voters believe Trump should prioritize either inflation or the economy in general. Enten drove the point home, saying, “It doesn’t matter what poll you look at. It is the economy, stupid.” This phrase, famously coined during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, highlights the enduring importance of economic issues in shaping voter sentiment. However, despite the clear demand for action, two-thirds of voters—including a striking 48% of Republicans—feel that Trump is not adequately addressing this critical issue. “They believe that Donald Trump is not keeping his eyes on the prize,” Enten pointed out. This perception could prove politically costly for Trump, as voters are increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress on an issue they care deeply about.
The economic numbers paint an equally concerning picture. In November 2020, 49% of voters rated the economy as excellent or good. But by November 2024, that number had plummeted to just 32%. Since then, the situation has only worsened. Today, a mere 27% of voters—barely one in four—view the economy in a positive light. Enten stressed that this downward trend is unsustainable for Trump’s approval ratings. “If this number does not go up, Donald Trump’s approval rating will go down,” he warned. The implications are clear: If Trump fails to turn things around, his presidency could suffer the same fate as Biden’s. “I started this segment by saying that inflation ate the Joe Biden presidency alive, it crushed it. If these numbers remain the same, inflation will do the exact same thing to Donald Trump’s second term. It will eat it alive. It will crush it.”
Enten’s analysis highlights the delicate balance Trump must strike to avoid falling into the same trap as his predecessor. Just as inflation overwhelmed Biden’s agenda and overshadowed his accomplishments, it now threatens to define Trump’s second term in office. The data makes one thing clear: Americans are laser-focused on the economy, and they expect their leaders to deliver results. If Trump cannot stabilize prices and restore confidence in the economy, he risks losing the support of even his base. The fact that nearly half of Republican voters already feel he is not doing enough on this front should serve as a wake-up call for the administration.
The warning signs are already flashing. Voters’ perceptions of the economy have deteriorated significantly since Trump took office, and this decline shows no signs of reversing. If the current trends continue, Trump’s approval ratings will likely follow suit. As Enten put it, inflation is not just an economic challenge—it’s a political ticking time bomb. For Trump to avoid the same fate as Biden, he must shift his focus decisively to addressing the inflation crisis. Anything less could seal his political fate.
In conclusion, the challenge ahead for Trump is clear. Inflation, the same force that derailed Biden’s presidency, is now looming over Trump’s second term. With voters demanding action and economic confidence at historic lows, Trump has little room for error. If he cannot convince Americans that he is serious about tackling inflation and improving the economy, his presidency will be at risk of suffering the same fate as Biden’s. The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher. As Enten so bluntly put it, “If Donald Trump is not careful, inflation will crush his presidency and eat it alive.”
