President Trump is traveling to Pennsylvania today to deliver a speech on the economy. This wouldn't have stood out during his first administration as he loved to travel domestically and hold campaign-style rallies, especially leading up to the 2020 election. But in his second term, this is a rare trip.
The president has made very few domestic trips this year for official engagements. He's spent the vast majority of his time in Washington or traveling internationally to meet foreign leaders.
What today's trip tells us: Democrats' midterm messaging –– and GOP fretting over the prospect of losing big in next year's elections –– is coming strongly into focus for the president.
The vibes are off: The political environment the president is delivering his speech in has been dominated in recent weeks with a focus on Americans struggling amid rising living costs.
While still much lower than the Biden-era COVID-19 years, inflation continues to plague the economy, and polls have shown broad anxiety about the president's tariff war exacerbating consumer prices.
Political alarm bells ringing: Democrats won soundly in Virginia, New Jersey and other states last month, sending warning signs for Republicans.
While Trump has dismissed any suggestion that Democrats are winning the messaging fight over affordability, today's trip suggests otherwise.
Trump, speaking to Politico in an interview ahead of his speech, rated the economy as "A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus."
More to come?: White House chief of staff Susie Wiles says Trump will start campaigning as if it were a presidential election year.
"I haven't quite broken it to him yet, but he's going to campaign like it's 2024 again," Wiles told "The Mom View" podcast.
Tune in tonight: Trump is speaking in Mount Pocono, Pa., where he won by just 1 point in 2024, at 6:10 p.m. 💻 Livestream
💬 Follow today's live blog
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