Trump To Test 'Affordability' Message At Mount Pocono Rally As Economic Confidence Wanes

President Donald Trump will bring his argument that his administration is addressing Americans' affordability concerns to a campaign-style rally Tuesday in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, moving a message he has delivered from the Oval Office and social media into a public, electoral setting.

Polling shows public confidence in Trump's economic leadership remains weak after disappointing off-cycle results for Republicans. The White House is trying to persuade voters that the economy will strengthen next year and that inflation-related anxieties should not be blamed on the administration.

Policy Moves And Inflation Debate

Trump has repeatedly blamed his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for inflation even as some of his own policy actions coincided with renewed price pressures. Inflation began to tick up after Trump announced sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs in April; businesses warned that import taxes could be passed on to consumers through higher prices and reduced hiring, though the administration disputes that link.

“We’re bringing prices way down,” Trump said Monday at the White House. “You can call it ‘affordability’ or anything you want — but the Democrats caused the affordability problem and we’re the ones that are fixing it.”

The administration also points to relaxed fuel-efficiency rules for autos and agreements to lower list prices on certain prescription drugs as measures intended to ease costs for consumers. Trump has urged the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rate to reduce mortgage and auto-loan costs; critics warn aggressive rate cuts could risk reigniting inflation.

Why The Mount Pocono Rally Matters

The rally in Monroe County, home to the Pocono Mountains, could indicate how voters react to Trump's affordability pitch. Monroe flipped from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024 and played a role in delivering Pennsylvania to the Republican ticket. The county relies heavily on tourism and attracts commuters and renters seeking more affordable housing within roughly two hours of New York City.

Trump's event will be held in a competitive congressional district represented by freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, who narrowly won in 2024 by about 1.5 percentage points. Democrats have targeted the seat; Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is competing for her party’s nomination to challenge him.

“We’re actually going to turn that on its head,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said on the conservative online show The Mom View. “And put him on the ballot because so many of those low-propensity voters are Trump voters.” She added, “So I haven’t quite broken it to him yet, but he’s going to campaign like it’s 2024 again.”

Public Perception And The Political Stakes

Economists note the U.S. economy has shown resilience — stock markets are up this year and growth looked solid in the third quarter — but many Americans continue to feel that housing, groceries, education, electricity and other essentials consume a large share of household incomes. The administration projects those pressures will ease next year with expanded investment in manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Since November’s elections — where Democrats won key races by focusing on kitchen-table issues — Trump has dismissed concerns about prices as a "hoax" or "con job," insisting he is not responsible for inflation. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey in November found just 33% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy.

Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.