President Donald Trump is hardly helping Republicans on the economy.
His declaration, as he left for China, that he is not thinking about the financial situation of Americans amid talks with Iran to end the war is adding to midterm anxiety for Republicans and giving Democrats fresh political fodder. Polls show the economy remains a top priority for most Americans, but Trump’s favorability on the issue has cratered as he has focused on foreign entanglements and political fights.
Trump told reporters earlier this week as left for the overseas summit that the “only thing” that matters is Iran not obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Democrats wasted no time highlighting the remark and are expected to do so regularly in the run-up to midterms, where control of the Senate is in play.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on the floor the morning after Trump’s remarks, alongside a large poster featuring a picture of the president and the quote.
“Trump launched this war without a plan, without a clear objective, and without any thought to how it might affect the American people,” Schumer said, noting that the Pentagon said this week that the cost of the war is up to $29 billion.
“Americans’ financial situation is dire, and Republicans don’t think about anyone other than Donald Trump,” he said.
Despite Trump’s boasts about the nation’s economic standing, there are plenty of signs of tumult in recent months — much of which is attributed to the war. Energy prices have soared, with gas prices up on average by nearly $1.75 a gallon since the fighting with Iran started in late February.
Republicans got more bad news this week when inflation rose by 3.8% in the 12 months through April, an uptick by half of a percentage point. That’s the highest figure in three years.
Trump’s comments also landed with a thud among Republicans on Capitol Hill. One Senate Republican described the message as “a big problem,” especially as constituents are constantly asking when prices will come back down.
“Just one line like that … will be replayed time and time again,” the Senate Republican said. “I think it’s damaging.”
“It makes it difficult to answer the question: What are you going to do about affordability?” the senator said.
It also comes as the party has found it difficult to respond to affordability issues with legislation.
Instead of economic legislation, Republicans are in the midst of trying to pass a second reconciliation bill featuring funds for Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to secure the proposed East Wing project that features the yet-to-be-built ballroom Trump covets.
Republican leaders are also trying to move a bipartisan housing bill that has been stuck for months amid a spat between the two chambers. They have also been trying to sell the tax cuts passed last summer as an economic booster.
Some in the Republican conference indicated they did not believe Trump meant what he said, and that he was just trying to hammer home the point that he does not want Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“He was simply trying to focus on the fact that they have the capability of doing a nuclear weapon, which is very, very important,” said South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds. “I really don’t think he meant to put it in those terms that he doesn’t care as much as the priority for the American people is the defense of our country.”
“I care, and I really do believe the president cares as well. I really think he does,” Rounds said. I think he’s just as concerned as the rest of us are.”
A pair of Senate Republican aides told NOTUS they were particularly put off by them.
“Unhelpful,” one aide said in reaction.
The aide also said the comment was reminiscent of Schumer saying a week into an eventual 43-day shutdown that “every day gets better” for Democrats as the impasse dragged on, during which federal employees were not getting paid. It quickly was turned into Republican attack ads and fueled concerns about Schumer’s leadership.
A second Senate aide said they fully expected Trump’s remarks to appear in Democratic ads in no time, sarcastically calling the remarks “very helpful.”
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is already trying to tie the comments to some incumbents and Republican candidates and past remarks they’ve made about affordability. Among them is Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who, when asked what Republicans are doing about the rising cost of beef, told a local reporter there are “many proteins to choose from.”
“Six months ago, the White House told us they were going to shift to an economic message,” one GOP operative involved in midterm races said. “There are a lot of American families that are wondering when they take priority.”
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