Inside Scoop: Trump Calls Economy A+++++ — 63% Of Voters Disagree; GOP Women Push Back

The president is crisscrossing the country insisting the economy deserves top marks. For the Here’s the Scoop podcast I spoke with NBC senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake to take a closer look at the claims and how voters are responding.

Where public opinion stands

Donald Trump has repeatedly described the economy as an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.” But polls tell a different story: 63% of registered voters say they do not agree with that assessment. That gap helps explain why the president has been campaigning in swing states such as Pennsylvania to address cost-of-living concerns.

In an exchange with Politico’s Dasha Burns, Trump responded to a supporter who said he hasn’t done enough to lower the costs of groceries, utilities, insurance and running a small business. The president pointed to lower energy and gas prices, tariff rollbacks and trade negotiations he says will bring in significant revenue and allow some American-made AI chips to be sold in China. Analysts caution, however, that it may take years for those actions to produce measurable job growth or materially reduce household costs.

Why affordability still hurts

Economic messaging has long been central to Trump’s appeal. Promising a stronger economy for working Americans helped power his initial White House win and was a major theme of his 2024 campaign. Many voters remain concerned about job security, inflation, housing costs, health care and child care.

Surveys underline the strain on households: a January survey of 1,065 professionals found 73% saying their salaries do not cover living expenses, and a Goldman Sachs analysis in October estimated roughly 40% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck without meaningful savings. Meanwhile, heavy investment in artificial intelligence is concentrating wealth for some while increasing anxiety about job stability, especially among younger workers. Despite these headwinds, the president often blames affordability concerns on what he calls "Biden’s economy."

Political consequences and Republican concerns

Congressional Republicans are anxious that perceived inaction on affordability could carry electoral costs. "In 2024, Democrats failed to really hammer the economy and it cost them the election," Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, told colleagues. "If we as Republicans fail to do the same, it wouldn’t surprise me if we had a similar turnout."

At the same time, internal tensions within the GOP are rising. High-profile Republican women have grown increasingly vocal about their treatment within the party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said she planned to resign from Congress over frustrations with party leadership and the president. South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace wrote in The New York Times about how women in the party have been sidelined by male leaders—signs of growing dissent that Capitol Hill correspondents are watching closely.

Investigations and other top stories

Dozens of men who participated as boys in the Royal Rangers—an offshoot of Pentecostal scouting—told NBC News they were abused by some adult leaders. Reporters Mike Hixenbaugh and Elizabeth Chuck identified at least 29 Royal Rangers leaders accused of sexually abusing boys over the past five decades, based on lawsuits, police reports and archival news coverage. Their reporting is part of an ongoing investigative series.

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments about campaign finance limits on how much national parties can spend in coordination with candidates. The case traces back to filings brought by Vice President J.D. Vance during his Senate run; his broader political ambitions could shape the policy stakes.

Other notable items: Miami could elect a Democratic mayor for the first time in three decades in a race drawing national attention; the Hubble Space Telescope captured images of an interstellar comet traveling at roughly 137,000 miles per hour as it passed near Earth; scientists are experimenting with replaying healthy reef "soundscapes" underwater to aid coral restoration; police in São Paulo arrested a suspect accused of stealing eight plates from Henri Matisse’s "Jazz" series; and Australia’s ban on major social platforms for those under 16 went into effect today.

On a lighter, personal note: AT&T may be phasing out landlines, but some of us remain nostalgic for old phones—like the author’s translucent 1991 handset.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was produced with Senior Editor Michelle Garcia. For full access to ad-free articles, podcasts and exclusive briefings, consider subscribing to NBC News.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.