CNN’s Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten is facing calls for his removal after labeling President Donald Trump as “the most influential president this century” during an August 3, 2025 broadcast. Viewers quickly objected to the statement, prompting demands for Enten’s dismissal.
Enten made this assertion on CNN’s “Run The Numbers,” hosted by Omar Jimenez, while evaluating the impact of Trump’s policies. He noted that Trump is rapidly altering the nation through new tariffs, stricter immigration laws, and an increase in executive orders.
The controversy started after Jimenez introduced the nickname “TACO,” meaning “Trump Always Chickens Out,” in the context of Trump’s tariff policies. Enten refuted this view with comprehensive data.
“No tacos for Trump when it comes to tariffs. Take a look: 18%—the highest tariff rate since the 1930s, Omar. That’s up from just 2 percent a year ago,” Enten stated on the broadcast.
Enten also discussed the changes in immigration policy under Trump, predicting a significant reduction in net migration to the United States by at least 60 percent from the previous year’s 2.8 million figure. He further warned of potential negative net migration in 2025.
“We could actually see negative net migration to the US next year,” Enten remarked. “That would mark the first time in at least five decades that this trend has appeared.”
Enten highlighted Trump’s extensive use of executive orders, noting 180 signed by mid-2025, far exceeding former President Joe Biden’s 77 during his first year. He emphasized that such activity levels have not been seen since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
Concluding the segment, Enten described Trump’s impact as historic, quoting, “Love it, like it, lump it” to illustrate that regardless of personal opinions, the data indicates significant change.
Social media reactions were swift, with numerous viewers expressing strong views. Many CNN viewers voiced their discontent, calling for Enten’s firing. Some questioned whether Enten was supporting Trump’s actions, especially the tariff increases that could elevate costs for Americans.
One concerned viewer posted on X, questioning whether Enten favored higher taxes, a full statement wasn’t provided. Others argued that Trump’s influence had been detrimental rather than beneficial.
Conversely, some viewers agreed with Enten’s conclusions, asserting that the data speaks for itself and highlighting Trump’s significant voter base, underscoring the polarizing nature of Trump’s leadership.
Enten’s situation is notable considering CNN’s generally critical stance towards Trump. However, Enten relied solely on data and measurable outcomes, avoiding personal opinions. His experience as a data analyst added weight to his analysis.
At 37, Enten is a Dartmouth College graduate and former FiveThirtyEight analyst, who joined CNN in 2018. He currently hosts CNN’s “Margins of Error” podcast, which focuses on statistical analysis over traditional campaign coverage.
Trump’s policies, as discussed by Enten, are central to his “America First” initiative. Trump has implemented new tariffs on imports, raising rates for specific nations. For instance, tariffs on Canadian goods increased from 25 percent to 35 percent due to allegations of insufficient fentanyl smuggling prevention by Canada.
The immigration figures Enten referenced reflect Trump’s tighter border controls and policies, resulting in the most significant shifts in migration in years.
This incident highlights the tension between CNN’s standard editorial approach and objective, data-driven reporting. Despite the network’s frequent criticism of Trump, Enten’s segment focused on factual policy outcomes instead of partisan discourse.
The segment’s rapid online dissemination shows ongoing public interest in Trump’s presidency and its effects. Clips and quotes from Enten’s analysis quickly spread across social media, eliciting diverse reactions.