CNN interrupted for breaking news and it’s humiliating for Donald Trump

CNN rarely interrupts its programming unless something truly newsworthy drops and that’s exactly what happened when a new poll delivered alarming news for Donald Trump.

During a live segment, CNN cut to breaking coverage as fresh polling data revealed a sharp collapse in Trump’s approval ratings as 2025 nears its end. The numbers, presented by CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten on Inside Politics Sunday, painted a bleak picture not just for Trump overall, but especially with the voters he can least afford to lose: independents.

According to Enten, Trump began 2025 in relatively strong territory. His net approval rating in January sat six points above water, higher than at any point during his first term. But that advantage didn’t last.

By December, Trump’s net approval had plunged to 12 points underwater, marking an 18-point drop over the course of a single year.

The primary driver of this collapse? Independent voters.

As Enten bluntly put it, independents are “the name of the game.” In January, Trump’s net approval among independents was roughly even at minus one hardly impressive, but manageable. By December, however, it had collapsed to minus 43, a staggering 42-point decline.

To underscore just how deep the fall has been, Enten joked that Trump is now “hanging out with Jacques Cousteau,” emphasizing how far underwater his support has sunk.

The damage isn’t limited to approval ratings alone. Polling also shows voters souring on issues Trump once relied on to shore up support.

On the economy, Trump started the year with a plus nine net approval. That number slid 25 points, landing at minus 16 by December. Immigration followed a similar trajectory, falling from plus nine to minus six.

Additional surveys reinforce the downward trend. A new YouGov/CBS poll found that 61% of Americans believe Trump is sugarcoating prices and inflation, while 45% say his policies will leave them financially worse off in 2026. An earlier AP-NORC poll showed just 31% approval for Trump’s handling of the economy.

Enten summed up the political implications clearly: history is not kind to presidents in this position.

When independents abandon an incumbent and confidence collapses on the economy the warning signs are unmistakable. As 2025 closes, the polling suggests Trump isn’t just struggling with perception problems. He’s facing a credibility crisis that could define what comes next.