‘Truly Surprised by This’: CNN’s Harry Enten Highlights ‘Shocking’ Approval for Trump and DOGE Spending Cuts
CNN’s Harry Enten reported that President Donald Trump’s efforts to make sweeping spending cuts in the federal government has majority support on Thursday, something the senior data reporter admitted “truly surprised” him.
Enten joined CNN anchor Kate Bolduan on Thursday and showed that recent polling shows most support efforts by Trump and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) to cut federal spending and staff. Enten noted the efforts remain generally popular, while DOGE head Elon Musk himself remains “not that popular.”
“This to me, was one of the more shocking figures that I saw. Made me go, ‘Wait a minute. Hold on one second. Whoa!'” Enten said.
According to a CBS/YouGov poll, 54% believe Musk and DOGE should have at least some influence on government spending and operations. More than 50% also backed cutting staff at federal agencies, something Trump has earned blowback from critics over.
“Elon Musk might not be that popular. But these cuts and the idea of spending cuts, at least within the federal government and cutting a government agencies that actually has majority support. I was truly surprised by this, but the numbers are the numbers,” Enten said.
In a separate poll of registered voters by The Washington Post/Ipsos, Enten highlighted that people are fairly split on Musk’s specific efforts, but more approve than disapprove with 42% saying the X owner is mainly looking to cut “wasteful spending,” while 36% believe he’s trying to cut “necessary programs.”
Citing Gallup numbers, Enten also noted that views on the federal government and its size have shifted in recent years. In 2020, just 41% said the government was doing too much. That number jumped to 55% in 2024.
“They’re giving him running room on this, but that’s why I think these numbers show why transparency and what is actually being done, and why the problems of they’ve made mistakes in putting things up on their wall of resources that didn’t actually happen or not, why that is so important,” Bolduan said.
“I think that’s exactly right. Well have to wait and see what happens,” Enten added. “What’s popular one moment may not be the next.”
Watch above via CNN.
