Trump insists the economy is roaring in a campaign-style speech in Pennsylvania
MT. POCONO, Pa. — President Donald Trump traveled to this tough, politically competitive part of the country Tuesday to tout his economic record — insisting that he is already the architect of “lower prices” and “higher wages,” as a massive sign behind him proclaimed — while voters here and across the country say their bank accounts are still tight.
“The only thing that’s really skyrocketing is the stock market and your 401(k),” Trump told a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters gathered in a cozy ballroom at the Mt. Airy Casino Resort, nestled in the Pocono Mountains.
Characteristically, he sometimes strayed from the script and topic of affordability. He attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. — sparking a chant of “send her back” to Somalia — bashing windmills, mocking transgender people and calling his predecessor, Joe Biden, a “son of a bitch.”
But even as he focused on the theme of his speech, Trump continued to publicly question whether affordability is really a problem for Americans — and whether he has already done enough to turn around the economy. At one point, he said “affordability” was a “new word” concocted by Democrats to criticize him. At another conference, he proclaimed, “I have no greater priority than making America affordable again.”
Trump has called on allies — including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright — to support him.
Bessent suggested that Trump had already solved America’s economic problems. “Under President Trump, scarcity is giving way to prosperity,” Bessent said. “President Trump decisively ended the three “i’s” – immigration, interest rates and inflation – “under Joe Biden.”
But that message is at odds with what most Americans tell pollsters — and what most voters who spoke to NBC News here in northeastern Pennsylvania — which is that they think the cost of living is too high and that they worry about the state of the economy. And Trump’s decision to hold a rally here, which White House officials say will be the first in a series, reflects the sensitivity both of Americans’ perceptions of his performance and of Republicans’ chances of retaining their House majority if he doesn’t.
“I haven’t quite told him yet,” White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said this week in an interview with conservative talk show “The Mom View,” “but he’s going to campaign like it’s 2024 again.”
Trump toured the country extensively before the 2018 midterm elections — two years into his first term — but was unable to stop voters from ousting the House Republican majority that year and putting Democrats in position to investigate his administration. He would like to avoid a repeat of that outcome, which ultimately led to him being impeached twice by the House.
The smaller crowd and more intimate setting of Tuesday night’s speech may have contributed to a calmer response than Trump usually gets from the faithful at rallies. Campaign rhetoric nonetheless included shout-outs to local residents — including a speech about Pennsylvania’s status as a “commonwealth” rather than a “state” — about what he’s trying to do for them.
“After just 10 months in office, I am happy to report that America is winning again, Pennsylvania is prospering again, and I will not rest until this Commonwealth is richer and stronger than ever,” he said to applause.
Trump is now banking on his ability to make people believe that he has repaired – or will repair – an economy broken by Biden. But in doing so, he runs the risk of falling into the trap that has plagued Biden: losing credibility by telling voters the economy is better than they think.
One thing he didn’t do Tuesday night was hint at any regrets about actions he’s taken or future course changes. Instead, he showed a series of slides intended to demonstrate to the audience that the economy is booming. Outside the rally — among those who are not die-hard loyalists to the point of braving subzero temperatures to see him speak in a casino ballroom — the outlook on Trump’s economy is more mixed.
“People don’t have disposable income like they used to,” said Robin Mathers, 51, who works part time at a pet store in Dickson City, just outside Scranton. Mathers, who identifies as a Republican but has voted for Democrats every time Trump appeared on the ballot, said food prices “aren’t crazy” but noted they haven’t gone down either. And, she added, her colleagues are struggling to keep up with rising rents.
“We’re just trying to get by,” she said.
Scranton resident Tom Tompkins and his partner, Cathy Gallagher, are a house divided — Tompkins supported Trump in 2024 and Gallagher did not. But they agreed in an interview with NBC News that the economy is not as strong as Trump believes, and Tompkins said he wouldn’t vote for Trump again if the president was on the ballot now — citing affordability as the reason.
For the most part, Trump voters remain loyal to him.
Bob Manci, who retired from a career as an accountant for a foreign electronics company, said the economy is “doing better” under Trump.
“I know a lot of people think tariffs hurt the economy,” Manci said. “I don’t necessarily believe in it. I think overall it will be good for the American economy, provided everyone gives them time to work.”
Trump rated his own economy as “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” in a Monday interview with Politico, even as he continued to blame Biden for the difficulties. He accused the Democrats of having fabricated “a hoax” by accusing him
Ultimately, voters will have a say in his handling of the economy next November in congressional elections like the one heating up here.
Trump won this district, which stretches from Wilkes-Barre and Scranton to the northeastern part of the state, by more than 8 percentage points last year. That helped Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a freshman Republican, oust a Democratic incumbent by less than 2 percentage points. Bresnahan will likely face Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, an independent-turned-Democrat, in a race that the Cook Political Report ranks among the most competitive in the country.
Bresnahan, who addressed the crowd Tuesday before Trump arrived at the rally, acknowledged hearing from voters “talking about the challenges they face.”
“The message is the same everywhere we go: reduce costs, support good-paying jobs, keep our communities safe and listen to those who do the work,” he said.
But, he added, the policies in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — including cutting taxes on tips and overtime — have delivered results for workers in his district.
“Now,” he said, “it’s time to build on that foundation.”
Cognetti, his likely opponent, said in a telephone interview that it was clear at a public convenience hearing Monday night in Scranton that voters here are not satisfied.
“Anyone who has listened to the stories of residents trying to make ends meet right now knows that we are in a very difficult economic environment for the majority of people in northeastern Pennsylvania — rising utility costs, rising housing costs, rising food prices and, imminently, rising health care costs,” she said, the latter part referring to Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire if Congress does not act.
By voting for Trump’s agenda, Cognetti said, Bresnahan exacerbated those problems.
“The economy is not good, and in our newest Congressman, Rob Bresnahan, we have someone who voted to make life more difficult for the people of Northeast Pennsylvania,” she said. “At every turn, he has voted to cut programs and funding that we need.”
NBC News requested an interview with Bresnahan, but his office did not make him available to speak.
More than an hour into his rally, Trump introduced Bresnahan to the crowd, giving the new congressman an imprimatur that could be crucial in turning out GOP voters next year.
So, in all likelihood, are Republican voters’ feelings about the economy, especially in politically divided parts of the country like this one.
Trump said the policies he has implemented — from tax cuts to tariffs — will prove prosperous for Pennsylvania and the rest of America.
“You’re going to see what happens over the next two years,” Trump said. “It’s like a miracle happened.”
