With Republicans in trouble, Trump gives himself an A+ ‘on everything’
Por Ben Johansen — POLITICO – TOP Stories
President Donald Trump on Thursday graded his second term an “A+,” even as his favorability nears record lows and his party appears poised to lose the House and possibly the Senate over dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy.
“I give us an A+ on the government, on economics, on everything,” Trump said at the White House before leaving for a trip to Texas to tout his administration at Peterbilt Motors Co.
Trump has twice this week appeared to blame his own team for failing to communicate all the positives he’s achieved since taking office nearly two years ago. On Thursday, he added that “the press isn’t treating us fairly.”
But with stubbornly persistent inflation, gas above $4.40 a gallon and mortgage rates above 7%, even Republicans in ruby-red states are facing headwinds that could blow them from office.
The president’s grade comes as affordability remains a major vulnerability for Republicans on the ballot this November. An AP-NORC poll released Thursday found just 26% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy and 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. Sixty-five percent said Trump’s policies are contributing to higher-than-usual prices.
The issue is particularly significant with Republicans facing a difficult midterm environment and Trump preparing to campaign for GOP candidates in the final weeks before Election Day. Voters have consistently ranked economic issues among their top concerns, giving Democrats an opening to focus their closing argument on prices and affordability.
Trump on Thursday also repeated his prediction that energy prices, which have skyrocketed since the U.S. and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran in late February, would soon plummet. “Oil is going to come down very, very soon,” he said. “Oil is coming down as soon as Iran is finished, and they’re finished pretty much right now.”
Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories
