President Donald Trumptried to reassure Americans that the U.S. economy was healthy at a campaign-style rally on Tuesday as Republicans brace for a tough fight to hold control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
Speaking at a Mount Pocono casino in northeastern Pennsylvania, Trump argued that his economic policies, including his imposition of widespread tariffs on imports, are creating jobs, boosting the stock market and attracting increased investment into the United States.
“I have no higher priority than making America affordable again,” Trump said.
Government data shows that job growth has slowed during Trump’s second term, unemployment has risen to its highest level in four years and consumer prices remain high. Overall, the economy’s growth has rebounded somewhat after it contracted during the first few months of the year.
Trump took credit for bringing down gasoline and energy costs and the price of eggs. He was quick to blame his predecessor in the White House, Democrat Joe Biden, for high prices on other goods even though he has now been in office for almost a year.
Some attendees carried placards that read: “Lower Prices” and “Bigger Paychecks.”
Trump suggested, as he has before, that Democrats were manufacturing a cost of living crisis for political gain. But he also said he agreed that “prices are too high.”
And he signaled it might take time for Americans to feel the effects of his policies.
“We have a long time,” Trump said, pointing out that he still had three years remaining in his term.
The president’s lengthy remarks were short on details on cutting costs and frequently veered off-subject into other areas such as transgender rights, Somali migrants in Minnesota, wind turbines and deadly electric fencing on the North Korean border.
Trump, in an excerpt from an interview with Politico released on Tuesday, was asked what grade he would give the economy. “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus,” he replied.
