Overview
- In a Wall Street Journal interview, the president said he "can’t tell you" whether Republicans will keep the House because he doesn’t know when his touted investments will "kick in."
- Trump continues to promote tariffs, tax cuts and large private investments as economic wins, even as his administration rolled back duties on more than 200 food items to ease grocery prices.
- A Reuters/Ipsos survey pegs overall approval at 41% with only 31% approving of his handling of the cost of living, while an NBC Decision Desk poll shows MAGA strong approval down to 70% from 78% in April and GOP identifiers evenly split between MAGA and the party.
- Recent Democratic gains in contests in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City were fueled by voter concern over affordability, underscoring Republican exposure heading into 2026.
- White House advisers plan near-weekly rallies next year to energize core supporters, even as allies like Rasmussen’s Mark Mitchell urge a sharper economic-populist message and some polling shows only a modest approval rebound that still leaves Trump underwater.