October 2, 2026
US President Donald Trump acknowledged his administration’s failure to communicate its economic achievements to public opinion, ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3, which will put the Republican Party before a decisive test to maintain its control over Congress.
Trump’s confession came during an event held at the White House on the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, where he described his performance in explaining the country’s economic conditions as “very bad,” declaring at the same time that the United States is experiencing its “best situation ever.”
These developments coincide with a noticeable decline in the president’s popularity and the rise in negative evaluations of his economic performance in opinion polls, amid severe living pressures exacerbated by the rise in gasoline prices, customs duties, and the repercussions of the war with Iran, which led to a sharp rise in energy prices.
In an indicator that reflects growing economic concerns, the Conference Board announced on Tuesday that the American consumer confidence index fell during September to its lowest level in about 12 and a half years, affected by families’ expectations of a deteriorating business environment and labor market in the next half year, in addition to pressures resulting from rising home prices and the cost of mortgages, despite the acceleration in job growth last August.
To confront this decline and avoid the historical pattern of the ruling party losing its seats in the first legislative elections following the presidential elections, Trump is preparing to engage in an intense election campaign over a period of 32 days to support Republican candidates. The president begins his field trip on Thursday, visiting the states of Texas and Oklahoma, followed by Alabama on Friday and Ohio on Saturday.
The midterm elections are of great strategic importance for Trump, as they include the renewal of the entire House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate seats. They are considered a major criterion for evaluating the administration’s performance, and will also determine Trump’s ability to continue passing his legislative agenda during the second half of his presidential term.
