US President Donald Trump delivered a rare evening address from the White House on Wednesday, using the nationally televised speech to highlight what he described as major achievements of his administration while shifting blame for rising consumer prices onto his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, as Republicans prepare for a challenging midterm election season next year.
Speaking for less than 20 minutes at a rapid pace, Trump told viewers that he had inherited a struggling economy and was now in the process of repairing it. “Eleven months ago, I took over a mess,” he said, arguing that his policies were already reversing years of economic mismanagement.
Rather than unveiling new initiatives to tackle persistently high living costs, the president focused on assigning responsibility for inflation to the previous administration, flawed trade agreements, illegal immigration, and what he characterised as a broken political system. Trump has frequently complained that his administration’s accomplishments are overlooked, and he used the address to push back against that narrative.
Trump highlighted efforts by his government to curb illegal border crossings and claimed progress in lowering prices for certain goods. He also announced a one-time “warrior dividend” payment of $1,776 that would be distributed next week to around 1.45 million US service members, framing it as recognition of their service.
During the speech, Trump endorsed a Republican-backed proposal to send direct cash payments to Americans to help cover health insurance costs, instead of providing subsidies through the Affordable Care Act. The plan has yet to gain sufficient backing in Congress. Trump argued that direct payments would empower consumers and reduce the influence of insurance companies.
The president acknowledged that prices remain elevated but insisted the country was on the verge of a strong economic expansion. He said his administration was moving quickly to bring costs down, even as he dismissed concerns about affordability as politically motivated attacks.
With congressional elections approaching, Republicans are aiming to retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, while Democrats are centring their campaign messaging on high living costs and healthcare access in hopes of regaining ground.
Inflation played a central role in Trump’s victory over former vice president Kamala Harris in last year’s election. However, economic uncertainty has persisted during Trump’s second term, partly due to tariff policies that have contributed to price increases and unsettled markets.
Public confidence in Trump’s economic management remains weak. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week showed that only 33 per cent of US adults approve of the way he is handling the economy, underscoring the political risks facing Republicans ahead of the midterms.
Trump delivered the address from the Diplomatic Reception Room rather than the Oval Office, an unusual choice for a presidential speech. In the address, he claimed his administration had secured $18 trillion in investment commitments, which he said would lead to new factories and job creation. He credited his tariff strategy as a key driver, declaring the United States the “hottest country anywhere in the world.”
He also said he would soon announce a new chair of the Federal Reserve, signalling a preference for a candidate who supports significantly lower interest rates. Trump claimed mortgage payments would decline further as a result.
The speech came just one day ahead of a closely watched inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While inflation fell to a four-year low earlier this year, it has since edged higher. The most recent data, released after delays caused by a prolonged government shutdown, showed annual inflation at 3.0 per cent in September, its highest level since January.
Economists note that while Trump’s tariffs have contributed to higher costs, their inflationary impact has been less severe than initially expected, with the burden shared among exporters, importers and consumers.
Democratic leaders were quick to criticise the president’s claims. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump had failed to deliver on his central campaign promise to lower costs immediately, arguing that prices continue to rise despite repeated assurances from the White House.
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