President Donald Trump kicked off his midterm campaign travel with a bipolar economy: huge growth but plummeting consumer confidence. Polling shows 58% of Americans disapprove of the economy, while 64% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living. Another challenge for Trump is that he appears distracted by foreign policy at the expense of cost-of-living issues. This is a problem every president navigates, but it has been especially stark during Trump’s first year back in power. Administration officials say Trump plans less foreign travel and more rallies in swing states.

Source: Washington Post February 09, 2026 14:05 UTC