Donald Trump awards his economic record an ‘A-plus-plus-plus’ grade ahead of a key Pennsylvania rally, despite persistent voter anxiety over living costs.
MOUNT POCONO: President Donald Trump headlined a campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday to defend his economic record against voter anxiety over rising costs.
The event at a Mount Pocono casino aimed to spotlight lower gasoline and egg prices alongside recent tax cuts.
A White House official said Trump would frame his tariff hikes and regulatory rollbacks as part of an effort to “rewire” the US economy.
In a pre-released interview excerpt with Politico, Trump was asked what grade he would give the economy.
“A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus,” he replied.
Nevertheless, the White House is grappling with voter angst about affordability, a vulnerability Democrats recently exploited in state elections.
Trump has grown frustrated that cost concerns dominate the political conversation.
“There’s this fake narrative that the Democrats talk about – affordability,” Trump complained at a cabinet meeting last week.
He reinforced that message at a White House event on Monday, stating, “The Democrats caused the affordability problem. We’re the ones fixing it.”
The rally was held in Pennsylvania’s competitive 8th District, seen as critical for Republicans to maintain slim congressional majorities in 2026.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Newsmax that Trump’s policies on taxes, regulation and energy would ease living costs.
“It is working. It takes time,” Leavitt said, adding Trump would be “going around the country, touting his accomplishments.”
Trump’s overall approval rating edged up to 41% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
However, his approval on handling the cost of living was just 31%, though up from 26% in late November.
While Trump points to declines in egg and gasoline prices from recent peaks, costs for other items are rising.
Recent government data shows beef prices up nearly 15%, bananas up 7% and coffee more than 20%.
A White House official said drug-price reductions and a new executive order targeting alleged food price-fixing should help.
Ahead of the event, several local residents at the casino expressed frustration over grocery costs.
“Prices are up 20 to 30 percent under Trump,” said independent voter Robert Stewart, 70.
Stewart criticised the president’s trade policies and threats to slash federal nutrition benefits.
“Trump is totally in this thing just for himself, and it’s a shame,” he said, adding he won’t vote for any Republican tied to Trump.
Republican attendee Bob Guarini, 56, said his community was “feeling the pain” from high prices.
Still, he believed Trump’s policies were improving things.
“He has to keep showing the progress that prices are going down,” Guarini said.
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale said Trump faces deep voter skepticism in the state.
“While Trump is desperately trying to sell his economic failures… Pennsylvanians know Trump’s chaotic tariffs and harmful policies are raising the costs,” he said. – Reuters
