Trump keeps telling voters he doesn’t care much about affordability
If the midterms were a referendum on whether trans athletes should be barred from women’s sports, or the White House ballroom should be gorgeously renovated, or God should be identified as “nonbinary,” then Republicans would have a clear and confident closing message. Unfortunately for the GOP, voters are less concerned with the Christian deity’s preferred […]
President Donald Trump addressed the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on September 9, 2026. The party's message focused on affordability, but many Republican speakers only briefly touched on the issue. The party's overall narrative claimed Democrats had created the cost-of-living crisis, while Republicans alleviated it by cutting taxes.
However, this argument is difficult to sell, as voters are more likely to blame current President Trump than former President Biden for high prices. Trump's recent actions, such as escalating the Iran war and trade wars, have directly contributed to higher costs for American consumers. For instance, diesel fuel prices hit a record high, mortgage rates are climbing, and groceries are becoming more expensive.
The president has acknowledged his unwillingness to prioritize affordability, even joking about it during his speech. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe their cost of living is "off on the wrong track" and disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation. The Iran war has cost the average US household over $780 through higher energy prices.
Despite these negative economic indicators, Republicans still have a narrow chance to retain the Senate and limit losses in the House. However, if the "blue wave" is weaker than expected, it will be because Trump's efforts have not addressed voters' top concerns.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
