Just 26 percent of Americans approved of President Donald Trump‘s handling of the economy as he launched a 32-day midterm campaign tour on Thursday, traveling from Washington, D.C., for rallies in Texas and Oklahoma.
United States President Donald Trump kicked off a 32-day campaign tour ahead of the November midterm elections, embarking on an effort to protect Republican majorities in Congress. Traveling from Washington, D.C., for back-to-back rallies in Texas and Oklahoma, the president defended his administration’s performance while grappling with widespread voter discontent over high fuel prices. At his first stop in Denton, Texas, Trump offered a personal evaluation of the administration, telling supporters he gives his team an A+ on government performance.
With all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate up for grabs, Republican candidates across the country face a difficult political environment. While Trump himself is not on the ballot, he has positioned himself as central to the party’s midterm strategy, famously telling voters at a convention in September, I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot
. At his second stop in Durant, Oklahoma, the Republican leader reiterated that sentiment, urging the audience to pretend he was running and warning that if they do not win, his opponents will seek to impeach him again.
Voters Express Deep Financial Anxiety as Midterms Approach
Public dissatisfaction centers largely on the economy and foreign policy, particularly the war on Iran.
Polling on the president’s economic stewardship has remained low even among Republicans, while rising fuel costs and economic strains have emerged as potential liabilities for the party.
Additional survey data reveals the deep financial anxiety felt by voters. A poll conducted last month by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that only 22 percent of Americans perceive the economy in a good or fair state. Roughly half of survey respondents reported worrying they would not be able to afford basic necessities like food and petrol.
President Targets California Cities During Campaign Rallies
As Trump zigzags across the country to fire up his base in red states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, he has frequently used California as a political foil. In a Nebraska rally, the president made remarks regarding the war in Iran and West Coast cities that drew immediate national attention.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city, let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
President Donald Trump, via Latimes
While Trump’s administration later argued the remarks were misunderstood, the comments brought immediate pushback.
California Democrats were sharp in their condemnation. Governor Gavin Newsom called the president deranged and dangerous while opening the state emergency operations center. Beyond foreign policy rhetoric, Trump has also disparaged the state’s voting systems, suggesting without evidence that Democrat-led cities are attempting to rig upcoming ballots.
Trump Blames Blue-State Energy Policies for High Fuel Costs
Trump’s campaign stops have also spotlighted internal party frictions and distinct regional debates.
“For decades, you were heartlessly betrayed by politicians, lousy politicians, who let foreign trade cheaters plunder your wages, loot your factories, close up your jobs. They’d still be doing it if I wasn’t here, believe me.”
President Donald Trump, via Aljazeera
While Trump praised Peterbilt workers and took credit for protecting domestic industry, Republicans face unexpected electoral headwinds in states typically viewed as safe. In Texas, where no Democrat has secured a statewide victory since the 1990s, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is currently facing a competitive Senate contest against Democrat James Talarico. During his Texas stops, Trump sought to bolster Paxton.
On the economic front, Trump also blamed blue-state energy policies for high fuel costs, while assuring supporters that once the war in Iran was over, fuel costs would go down.