A large majority of Republican voters say President Donald Trump has had a positive effect on the Republican Party, according to new polling data discussed this week on CNN.
The findings suggest the GOP remains strongly unified behind Trump and his political movement despite ongoing national controversies.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Thursday that 71 percent of Republicans believe President Donald Trump has “had a good effect on the GOP,” tying a record high from 2021 and up from 62 percent in 2023. The figure comes from the latest CNN/SSRS poll.
Enten noted that the data undercuts claims that Trump’s influence within the party has weakened. He said the results show more than personal approval of Trump and instead reflect a broader belief among Republican voters that his leadership strengthened the party overall.
The polling was highlighted amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and recent events in Minneapolis, where fatal shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents drew widespread attention and criticism. While those incidents sparked protests and scrutiny from the general electorate, Enten said they have had little impact on Republican opinion of Trump or his leadership.
According to Enten, Republicans continue to support not only Trump but also the Make America Great Again movement and Vice President JD Vance. He said hopes among critics that controversy would expose divisions inside the party have not materialized. Enten added that within Republican ranks, Trump’s standing is as strong as it has ever been.
Enten also said earlier this week that Trump is more popular among Republican voters than any Republican president in recent decades. He based that conclusion on aggregate polling data comparing Trump’s standing with past GOP leaders.
While public opinion nationally appears more divided on immigration enforcement and related issues, additional polling suggests that views on deportation policy have remained relatively stable. Surveys show a majority of Americans continue to support deporting immigrants living in the country illegally, even as opinions differ over how enforcement is carried out.
Despite those broader debates, the latest CNN polling indicates that Republican voters remain largely insulated from outside pressures when it comes to their view of Trump. The data points to a party that continues to rally around his leadership and political identity as the next election cycle approaches.