CNN host Michael Smerconish encountered an unexpected situation during his program on Saturday, August 2, 2025, when poll results he commissioned indicated strong support for a position favorable to President Donald Trump. The survey showed that 76 percent of viewers believe Democrats should publicly acknowledge Trump’s accomplishments when they agree with them, while 24 percent opposed this view.
The poll, featured on Smerconish’s website, asked whether it would benefit Democrats to publicly credit Trump for achievements they support. Anticipating a different outcome, Smerconish covered his eyes with a newspaper before revealing the results, making his prediction.
Smerconish confidently anticipated that respondents would largely disagree with the poll’s premise. However, when the data was displayed on screen, he appeared visibly surprised. He confirmed there was no manipulation of the results and admitted he had not expected such findings.
The results prompted criticism from some Trump opponents on social media. One critic questioned the relevance of the poll question, suggesting Smerconish should focus instead on public opinion regarding what they described as authoritarian actions by the White House, specifically mentioning issues at the Smithsonian Institution.
Smerconish addressed the criticism by identifying the user as part of the problem for Democrats, labeling such critics as ineffective. He stated, “If you want to complain about everything, then it becomes white noise.” He used the metaphor of a tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear to illustrate his point about incessant criticism losing its impact.
He urged Democrats to adopt a more strategic approach in their opposition, suggesting they be selective in their criticisms rather than maintain constant outrage. He cautioned that this strategy might harm their credibility with voters, especially as Trump continues to gain support nationwide.
This development occurred during a period when Smerconish has been notably commenting on Trump’s performance. On a broadcast on June 29, 2025, he recognized that despite his frequent disagreements with the President, Trump was experiencing what he considered the most successful period of his second term, praising Trump’s recent achievements, including foreign policy and economic developments.
During that earlier broadcast, Smerconish highlighted Trump’s performance at the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, where Trump reportedly secured agreements from allies to more than double their defense spending targets from 2 percent to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035. He also mentioned Trump’s interactions with a Ukrainian journalist, which Smerconish described as empathetic.
Smerconish has been hosting his Saturday morning program on CNN since March 2014, when he joined the network after departing MSNBC. His show combines topical and conversational elements, allowing him to express opinions while engaging with guests on various subjects beyond traditional political coverage.
He describes himself as independent, having formally left the Republican Party in 2010. He has consistently positioned his show as appealing to viewers who do not strictly align with either major political party, differentiating his approach from the more partisan programming typically found on cable news networks.
The poll results represent a notable moment for Smerconish, who has built his reputation on presenting what he considers balanced perspectives on political issues. His background in radio, including his continued work on SiriusXM, influences his television format, where he covers diverse topics ranging from Washington politics to popular culture references.
