Anderson Cooper 360 Trump Prepares For State Of The Union As Approval Ratings Drop
Feb 24, 2026
Caitlin Collins, CNN Washington correspondent covering White House strategy. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader offering Democratic perspective. They discuss the president’s State of the Union messaging and declining approval ratings. They also examine polling shifts among Latino and independent voters and how Democrats plan to respond tomorrow night.
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President Approval Numbers Signal Weak Base
- CNN polling shows President Trump's approval at 36% with 63% disapproval and independents approving at only 26%.
- Fewer than 1 in 5 voters (19%) strongly approve, tied for the lowest of either term, signaling weak core enthusiasm.
Frame Policy Wins Then Offer Clear Next Steps
- The White House plans a nuanced State of the Union focused on what they've done and an aggressive agenda going forward, centering on last summer's GOP tax bill.
- They hope tax changes will buoy voter sentiment but risk sounding out of touch if they dismiss people's economic pain.
Iran Options Create Political and Military Risk
- Trump disputes reporting that Joint Chiefs warned about risks of strikes on Iran while insisting he still wants a deal with Iran.
- The White House faces a dilemma between limited strikes, larger escalation, or pursuing a diplomatic deal.