WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to road-test his claims regarding tackling Americans’ affordability issues at a rally scheduled for Tuesday in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. This event marks a shift from his typical Oval Office appearances and social media posts to a more engaging campaign-style setting. The rally arrives at a time when polling indicates that public trust in Trump's economic leadership has waned significantly.
In light of last month’s disappointing results for Republicans in off-cycle elections, the White House is working diligently to convince voters that the economy is on track to become stronger in the coming year. Trump's administration is also attempting to absolve itself of any blame regarding inflation, consistently attributing the rising costs to his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden. Despite his efforts, it is important to note that Trump's aggressive policy implementations have contributed to price increases that had begun to stabilize after reaching a four-decade high in 2022.
Inflation began to rise again after Trump announced his broad “Liberation Day” tariffs in April. Experts warned that these import taxes could lead to higher prices for consumers and reduced hiring among companies. Yet, Trump remains adamant, proclaiming, “We’re bringing prices way down.” He further stated, “You can call it ‘affordability’ or anything you want — but the Democrats caused the affordability problem, and we’re the ones that are fixing it.”
The reception Trump receives at his rally in Monroe County could serve as an indicator of public trust in his claims. This county previously flipped to Trump in the 2024 election after supporting Biden in 2020, playing a crucial role in Trump’s victory in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Home to the Pocono Mountains, Monroe County heavily relies on tourism, offering skiing, hiking, and hunting opportunities that provide essential jobs. Its close proximity to New York City—just under two hours by car—has drawn individuals seeking more affordable housing options.
Monroe County is also pivotal for the upcoming midterm elections, as it falls within a congressional district represented by freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan. He is a primary target for Democrats, having won his 2024 race by a narrow margin of about 1.5 percentage points. Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is running for the nomination to challenge him, which adds to the district's significance.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles discussed Trump’s strategy on the online conservative talk show “The Mom View,” emphasizing that Trump will be actively campaigning next year to engage supporters who might otherwise abstain from voting in the congressional race. Wiles, who played a pivotal role in managing Trump’s 2024 campaign, noted that while most administrations typically try to localize midterm elections and keep the president out of the spotlight, her approach will diverge from that norm.
“We’re actually going to turn that on its head,” Wiles stated, “and put him on the ballot because so many of those low-propensity voters are Trump voters.” Wiles added humorously, “So I haven’t quite broken it to him yet, but he’s going to campaign like it’s 2024 again.”
In his efforts to portray himself as a champion for consumers, Trump has relaxed fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and signed agreements aimed at reducing prescription drug prices. He has also pushed for cuts to the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, arguing that this would lower the costs of mortgages and auto loans. However, critics caution that such significant cuts could exacerbate inflation rather than alleviate it.
Despite signs of resilience in the U.S. economy, including a rising stock market and solid growth projections for the third quarter, many Americans continue to feel the pinch from escalating prices in essential areas such as housing, groceries, education, and electricity. This economic reality is at odds with the Trump administration's hopeful outlook, which anticipates that investments in artificial intelligence and manufacturing will ease these burdens in the coming year.
Since the November elections, where Democrats focused on kitchen-table issues to secure key victories, Trump has frequently dismissed concerns about rising prices as a “hoax” or a “con job,” suggesting that he bears no responsibility for inflation. This is particularly striking given that he campaigned on his ability to quickly lower prices. A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of the economy, highlighting a significant disconnect between his assertions and public sentiment.
___ Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.