Trump Champions Economic Optimism Amid American Struggles

Wed Dec 10 2025 23:25:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

During a recent rally in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump claimed consumer prices are decreasing, aiming to ease public concerns about rising living costs. However, many Americans continue to face financial challenges, including high grocery prices and housing costs.

At a rally in Pennsylvania, President Trump asserted that consumer prices are dropping significantly, highlighting it as a priority of his administration to make America affordable again. While some prices, like gas and eggs, have declined, the general sentiment among Americans reflects growing frustration over the rising costs of essential goods and services, such as housing and healthcare. Despite Trump’s claims of economic improvement, surveys indicate persistent economic anxieties influencing voter sentiment as the midterm elections approach.

President Donald Trump has told a campaign-style rally that consumer prices are falling tremendously as he sought to allay voter anxiety about the US cost of living.

In a speech at a casino in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, the president told supporters he had no higher priority than making America affordable again.

But while gas and egg prices have fallen, other food is more expensive and Americans remain unhappy about the cost of housing, childcare and healthcare.

Democrats have capitalized on Trump's vulnerability on the economy in recent off-cycle votes, leaving many Republicans uneasy about next year's midterms elections.

Tuesday's event in a swing district of Pennsylvania was the first of what the White House says will be a series of campaign-like rallies aimed at bringing its economic message to voters.

But at one point in his remarks, the Republican president again portrayed concerns about affordability as a Democratic hoax.

In recent weeks, his administration has removed tariffs from dozens of food products and touted its rollback of fuel efficiency standards and Trump-branded retirement accounts for children as cost-of-living fixes.

In an excerpt from an interview with Politico released on Tuesday, Trump was asked what grade he would give the economy.

A plus-plus-plus-plus-plus, he said.

In a sign the policy pivot might be cutting through, Trump's approval rating rose three points to 41% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

But many Americans remain downbeat on the economy.

Alaina Hunt, 37, told the BBC she lost her job in April as a designer at a construction company in Oklahoma City, partly because of Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum.

She says rising grocery bills - about $25 extra per week - have added to the strain.

I was able to scrape by a lot easier in years before, said Ms Hunt, who voted for Kamala Harris. I don't think that the federal government is listening at all.

Economic data paints a mixed picture.

US consumer confidence fell in November to its lowest level since the spring.

But the stock market continues to hover near record highs. And forecasters expect the economy to expand by 1.9% this year, slower than last year's 2.8% but still better than expected.

Despite these statistics, the cost of living remains a prominent concern for many voters.

Trump also announced a $12bn aid package for US farmers, indicating his administration's approach to address economic challenges lies in support rather than direct intervention.