Harry Enten: Public Disapproval of Trump's Handling of Epstein Files

Public Opinion on Epstein Files

• 📉 Donald Trump is significantly underwater on his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, with a net approval rating 39 points in the negative.
• ⚠️ This issue is particularly detrimental to Trump, faring worse than immigration, foreign policy, trade, or the economy.
• 📊 Public approval for Trump's handling of the Epstein case has seen only a slight increase from 17% to 20% between early July and late September.
• 🎯 The American public is not buying Trump's narrative on the Epstein files, with his support falling below his typical electoral floor.

Republican Support for Trump on Epstein Case

• 🧐 Even among Republicans, Trump's job performance on the Epstein case is met with skepticism, with only 45% approval.
• 📉 This is considerably lower than his overall job approval rating as president, which hovers around 87% among Republicans.
• ⚠️ The lack of strong Republican backing on this specific issue indicates a significant vulnerability for Trump.

White House Strategy and Political Fallout

• 🏠 Speculation suggests Trump's name may appear in the Epstein files, prompting his strong opposition to their release.
• 📞 The White House has been actively trying to prevent a House vote on the release of the files, engaging with representatives like Nancy Mace.
• 🔄 Trump's reversal on his campaign promise to release the files in July has created a political snowball effect, making the issue difficult to escape.
• 🗣️ Insiders report that discussing the Epstein case with Trump often leads to anger and temper loss, influencing his reactive behavior.

Democratic Strategy and Media Narrative

• 📢 Democrats strategically released documents coinciding with the end of a government shutdown, forcing the Trump administration onto the defensive.
• 📰 The White House is frustrated by the Democrats' tactic of redacting a victim's name in an email, particularly when that victim had publicly stated no assault by Trump occurred.
• 🎯 This tactic allowed Democrats to gain a narrative advantage, leaving the White House in a defensive posture.

Trump's Handling of Criticism

• 💥 Donald Trump has a history of reacting negatively to criticism or issues that reflect poorly on him, sometimes leading to counterproductive outcomes.
• 🚀 His handling of the Epstein files, similar to his responses to the Russia investigation or COVID-19, involves doubling down or heavy-handed tactics that can exacerbate negative perceptions.
• 📉 The current situation is described as a "debacle of his own making," stemming from his refusal to release the files as initially promised.