Economy takes center stage after Trump’s State of the Union as midterms loom

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is putting the economy at the center of his messaging following Tuesday’s State of the Union address, as new polling shows many voters remain unconvinced the country is headed in the right direction financially.

Trump blamed Democrats for that disconnect, while his administration has been promoting lower prescription drug prices, tax cuts and what it calls a new era of American prosperity. (TNND)

Trump argued the nation’s economic strength is surging, saying, “Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world. The hottest… It’s getting bigger and bigger and stronger. Nobody can believe what they’re watching.”

But recent polls show voters do not believe the country is moving in the right direction when it comes to their wallets.

Trump blamed Democrats for that disconnect, while his administration has been promoting lower prescription drug prices, tax cuts and what it calls a new era of American prosperity.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer pointed to a range of indicators, saying, “Real wages are up. Blue-collar wages are up. Inflation is down. Consumer confidence is up. Job numbers in the private sector are up.”

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Americans are feeling more secure, saying, “What’s happening is that people are seeing that they’re getting raises, that their jobs are more secure and that’s lifting spirits quite a bit.”

Democrats offered a sharply different view.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “This was not America’s State of the Union. This was Donald Trump’s state of delusion. He’s in a bubble. He doesn’t even know what the average American is going through.”

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger gave the Democratic response and accused Trump of focusing more on his own needs.

“He’s enriching himself, his family, his friends. The scale of the corruption is unprecedented. There’s the cover-up of the Epstein files, the crypto scams, cozying up to foreign princes for airplanes and billionaires for ballrooms,” she said.

Trump is expected to take his message on the road, heading to Texas later this week ahead of the state’s primary. He is expected to focus on his economic plan and speak directly to Latino voters, many of whom supported him in the 2024 election and who polls show may be having a change of heart before the midterm elections.

A Pew Research Poll conducted at the end of last year found, “Latinos have grown pessimistic in the year since the 2024 presidential election. Most say their situation in the United States has worsened.”