The Republican Party is showing no signs of internal fracture, as fresh polling data reveals that President Donald Trump’s influence over his base has returned to a record-breaking peak. Despite a domestic climate marked by heated debates over immigration enforcement and recent controversial events in Minnesota, the rank-and-file of the GOP appears more unified behind the Trump-Vance ticket than at almost any other point in the last decade.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten highlighted this trend on Thursday, noting that the percentage of Republicans who believe Trump has “had a good effect on the GOP” is now tied with its all-time high. According to CNN/SSRS polling, 71% of Republicans hold this view—a sharp climb from the 62% recorded in 2023.
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This puts his current internal popularity on par with his standing in early 2021, suggesting that any perceived “weakness” in his hold over the party has evaporated.
Enten addressed skeptics who have looked for cracks in the MAGA movement’s foundation, particularly following the national outcry over the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
While those events have sparked intense scrutiny from the general electorate and the left, the impact within the Republican Party has been negligible. “[W]hat about the idea, essentially, not just that Republicans like or love Donald Trump, but believe he has been a good influence on the party. And here it is, just look at this,” Enten remarked. He emphasized that for those hoping to find a loosening of Trump’s grip, “It just simply put, isn’t there.”
The data also shows a strong reception for the broader MAGA movement and Vice President JD Vance. Enten’s analysis suggests that Trump remains “more beloved” among his party’s voters than any other Republican president in recent history. “Donald Trump, MAGA, JD Vance, they ain’t going nowhere when it comes to the GOP,” Enten stated, underscoring the resilience of the current party leadership.
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This internal solidarity exists alongside a complex national mood regarding immigration. While the Minneapolis shootings have triggered a wave of anti-ICE protests, a Marquette Law School survey released Wednesday indicates that broader public opinion on deportations remains largely stagnant. The poll found that 56% of Americans still favor deporting immigrants living in the country illegally, only a slight dip from 58% in November 2025.
However, the methods of enforcement are proving more divisive than the policy itself. Among those who support deportations, 35% expressed disapproval of how ICE is currently handling enforcement. Public sentiment regarding the specific incident involving Renee Good is even more lopsided, with 62% of respondents stating her shooting was not justified.
Despite these external pressures and the moral debates surrounding border enforcement, the GOP remains an insulated fortress of support for Trump, signaling a party that is doubling down on its identity as the 2026 political cycle continues to unfold.
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