Overview
- After months of aides urging a softer, more empathetic approach, the president is now emphasizing victory on affordability and overall economic performance.
- Market and macro data have surged, with the Dow crossing 50,000, the S&P 500 at all-time highs, January payrolls adding 130,000 jobs, gas averaging $2.94 a gallon, and inflation easing to a low last seen in May.
- Surveys continue to show a perception gap, including a Reuters-Ipsos finding that 59% disapprove of the president’s handling of cost of living and only 28% say the economy is on the right track.
- The gains are unevenly felt, as many households lack stock market exposure and consumer sentiment among non-investors remains near its lowest since at least 2018, according to University of Michigan data.
- White House officials point to moves intended to reach voters more directly, highlighting earlier tax cuts for 2026 refunds, hopes for rate cuts under new Fed chair Kevin Warsh, and a TrumpRx site listing 43 negotiated drugs.