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President Donald Trump is expected to kick off a year-long tour across the U.S. next week aimed at addressing concerns over affordability after his approval rating has plummeted.
A new poll from Politico found that 46% of Americans view the cost of living crisis as the worst in memory, with 37% of those being voters who supported Trump in 2024.
- Trump plans a year-long U.S. tour to address affordability amid a sharp drop in his approval ratings.
- 46% of Americans see the cost of living as the worst crisis in memory, including 37% of 2024 Trump voters.
- Trump's team views the tour as the key to promoting his economic agenda before the 2026 midterms.
The findings underscore deepening anxiety about household expenses and reflect a shift among some of the president’s own supporters as economic pressures mount.
Donald Trump is expected to tour the U.S. to address affordability concerns
Image credits: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Axios reported that Trump’s team is preparing a domestic travel blitz, with the president set to make a series of stops beginning in northeastern Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
The report says the tour is intended to promote his economic agenda and preview upcoming policy plans as the administration faces growing public frustration over affordability.
According to Axios, advisers view the travel schedule as a key effort to reintroduce Trump’s economic message and respond to voter concerns heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
In addition to Tuesday’s event, Trump is expected to attend one more this month before a slew of engagements after the New Year, the report noted.
Image credits: Politico
It comes as Trump’s approval rating among his own voters dropped, with many now holding him responsible for the cost-of-living crisis.
A poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos in mid-November found his approval rating overall to be 38%.
In recent months, there have been several reports of Trump voters griping over the cost of living and detailing how they are unable to afford groceries.
As per the Politico poll, 46% of Americans said the economy was now Trump’s responsibility, with 56% describing it as a top priority.
The polling also found a divide between Trump’s MAGA fanbase and those who did not align themselves with the movement but still voted for Trump in 2024.
A total of 61% of Trump voters trusted the GOP more than the Democrats to reduce the cost of living, compared to 88% of MAGA-aligned voters.
Americans are struggling with the cost of living, and many blame Trump
Image credits: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Groceries are at the top of the list of things people are struggling to afford, followed by housing and then healthcare.
While Trump is expected to make several trips to shore up support for Republicans amid criticism over affordability, he has consistently dismissed concerns.
At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he described affordability as a “Democrat scam” and “con job.”
“They just say the word,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything to anybody. They just say it—affordability. I inherited the worst inflation in history, there was no affordability. Nobody could afford anything.”
Trump repeated his claims when speaking to reporters in the Oval Office the following day after going on a lengthy tirade.
“This whole thing is they use the word affordability. It’s a Democrat hoax. They’re the ones that drove the prices up, and all they do is say ‘affordability,’” Trump said.
“When they use the word affordability, they never say anything else. ‘This election is about affordability,’ and then they go into the next subject. It’s a con job.”
Image credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently promised to ease the financial pressure on households, telling voters he would work to bring down prices as rising costs became a central issue in the race.
The message resonated at a time when many Americans blamed the Biden administration for persistent inflation.
Since taking office, the cost of living has remained a source of public frustration, and recent reporting indicates some Republicans are growing concerned about the political risks if voters continue to feel little relief.
Democrats have sought to capitalize on that unease, highlighting affordability in several recent races where candidates emphasized economic strain as a key campaign theme.
It has helped to secure victories by Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, and Zohran Mamdani in New York.
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