LOS ANGELES.–Fighting Democrats and the fake news for to control of reality, President Donald Trump faces an uphill battle convincing voters that things are more affordable than when former President Joe Biden was in office. Fresh off big wins in the Nov. 4 off-year election, it’s getting more difficult for Trump to convince voters, especially when it comes to the economy. Whatever cash Trump has raked in with his tariffs, it looks like certain imported goods like groceries have gone up in price, despite the fact that pump prices have gone down about 0.14 cents per gallon. Whatever ordinary consumers struggle with, the perception doesn’t match Trump’s optimism that things are much more affordable under his watch. “Republicans are entering next year more unified behind President Trump than ever before,” said RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pells, not dealing with voter perception.
Trump insists his approval ratings are no different than former Presidents George W. Bush or Barack Obama, both dealing with their own issues at the time. No question that Bush’s approval ratings were harmed by the Iraq War and Obama with his controversial health care program AKA Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act. Proving that perception is everything, Trump fights a media establishment that has nothing good to say about him or his administration. Many of Trump’s policies have rankled citizens, especially his crackdown on noncitizens, leaving Latino communities around the country in chaos. Trump said his deportation policy would only involve hardened criminals, gang members and drug traffickers, not laborers at Home Deport or car washes. Watching masked ICE or Homeland Security agents arrest Latinos has been troubling.
Trump claims his border policy has turned an open border into a fortress, dramatically reducing illegal crossings into the U.S. That much is undeniable but the policy of harassing Latino communities around the country has given the White House a black eye. When it comes to Trump’s economic policies, his tough tariff policies could have increased prices on various imported goods, now forced to pay more for certain items. Whether Trump admits it or not, ground beef prices were $5.86 a pound in Dec. 2024, not at $10 a pound today. Ground beef is a family staple, hitting ordinary families hard. When it comes bacon, prices are up from $6.99 in Dec. 2024 to $7.29 today, so there’s no denying that staple food prices are up. Trump acted today eliminating tariffs on beef, coffee and tropical fruit, acknowledging that something must be done to mitigate prices.
Trump’s biggest problem heading into the 2026 Midterm elections is not Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who backs a full release of the Epstein files. Trump could once count on Taylor Greene as a loyal acolyte but now she speaks out about the victims of Epstein’s escapades. But what does Epstein have to do with anything, when you consider he’s been dead for over six years? Trump and Epstein ran in New York’s socialite circles 40 years ago, yet the fake news make it out that Trump was in Epstein’s inner circle. Democrats and the fake news have a 2026 strategy of diverting voter to the Epstein files, when, in fact, Trump has many bigger problems to fix or risk losing the House—and his presidency. If the House turns Democrat, Trump can consider himself a useless lame duck for the rest of his term. Heading into 2026, Trump has to fix the Medicaid and Obamacare system.
Losing the Nov. 4 off-year election with 34-year-old socialist Zohran Mandami winning the New York City Mayor’s race was a blow to Trump and the GOP. No one expected a Republican to win the New York City’s mayor’s race but it’s much bigger than that. Mamdani rides a growing demographic trend toward a new generation of leader like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) who looks very seriously at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) seat. AOC has become a real boon to Mamdani but is now a real threat for a changing of the guard in the U.S. Senate. If AOC wants Schumer’s seat, there’s little Schumer or the old guard of the Democrat Party can do. Trump pivots quickly on Obamacare subsidies for faces a real backlash in the Midterms. Millions of Obamacare subscribers stand to have their premiums more than double by year’s end.
Hit by higher than expect prices, Trump finds it difficult convincing voters that he’s in charge of the economy, after promising in the 2024 to lower prices. Voters know what they’re paying in the grocery stores especially for staples like beef and bacon. With gas prices relatively the same since last year, Trump can only point to murky future where the real inflationary spiral is about to hit the Medicaid and Obamacare industry. If Trump doesn’t do things to extend Obamacare subsidies, he’ll have a lot of enemies in the polls in 2026. If he loses the house, Trump can kiss away his MAGA agenda for the next two years. He’ll face harassment from lawsuits and impeachment if Democrat takeover the House next year. So, whatever rises in food and energy prices, they pale in comparison to spiraling health care costs if Trump does nothing between now and year’s end.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
