Trump to address the nation as his popularity dips in the face of economic concerns : NPR
US President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable discussion at the White House.
Alex Wong/Getty Images North America
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Alex Wong/Getty Images North America
President Trump will deliver a prime-time speech tonight as his approval rating hovers below 40% and Americans feel increasingly pessimistic about the economy.
Although he has recently mocked Democrats’ emphasis on affordability, their focus on pocketbook issues is seen as the reason they won a key off-year election in November. And the president has tried to address the problem, recently hitting the road to make his economic case. He introduced his supporters in Pennsylvania last week by promising bigger tax returns in April thanks to his policies, as well as promoting “Trump accounts” for children born between 2025 and 2028.
But his characterization of the economy as “A+++++” in a recent Politico interview was criticized even by some conservatives as tone-deaf.
Wednesday’s speech will provide the president with another opportunity to resume economic discourse, although the White House says the speech will cover a wide range of issues.
“He will address the country about all of its historic accomplishments over the past year and perhaps touch on some policies that will be put in place in the new year as we head into the Christmas season,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Tuesday.
Leavitt specifically cited border security and lower gas prices as two likely focuses of Trump’s speech.
The speech comes as approval of Trump’s handling of the economy has reached a new low, according to the latest NPR PBS News Marist Poll. Fully 45% of Americans said prices are their top economic concern right now, far ahead of the next highest category – home prices – at 18%.
The various tariffs unilaterally imposed by President Trump are driving up prices, as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reported last week. He told reporters that inflation growth is occurring entirely in goods (as opposed to services) and that growth is occurring “entirely in sectors where there are tariffs.”
Trump will have another opportunity to speak directly to voters on Friday, when he delivers a speech in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
