President Donald Trump’s approval among Republican voters has climbed in the wake of the renewed media focus on the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to new polling data — contradicting widespread assumptions that the scandal would damage his standing.
CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten expressed surprise at the trend, noting that instead of dipping, Trump’s support has actually increased.
“You might think his approval ratings were going down with Republicans — if anything, they’re going up,” Enten said, citing recent numbers from both CNN and Quinnipiac. CNN’s poll showed Trump’s GOP approval rising from 86% to 88%, while Quinnipiac’s numbers showed an increase from 87% to 90%.
“He is at the apex, or close thereto, in terms of his popularity with Republican voters,” Enten remarked.
He also pointed out that, despite the loud conversation on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), most Republican voters simply don’t view the Epstein matter as a priority. In fact, only one respondent in CNN’s survey identified the Epstein case as the country’s most important issue — not one percent, just one person.
“That tells you why Trump’s numbers aren’t taking a hit over this,” Enten said. “Because to most people, it’s just not high on their list of concerns.”
The polling boost comes after Trump dismissed the renewed focus on Epstein as yet another politically motivated attack. In a Truth Social post earlier this week, he called it the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” accusing Democrats and the media of using it to distract from what he described as his “incredible and unprecedented success.”
Trump also criticized former allies who have bought into the narrative, saying bluntly, “I don’t want their support anymore.”
As controversy swirls online, the data suggests the Epstein issue has done little to shake Trump’s core Republican support — and may have even strengthened it.
