President Donald Trump kicked off his midterm campaign to retain Republican control of the U.S. House with a rally Tuesday in one of Pennsylvania’s most competitive congressional districts.
Large banners reading “Lower Prices” and “Bigger Paychecks” flanked the stage at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Monroe County. That’s in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District where Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan is running for reelection in 2026.
The rally, Trump’s first since July, was billed as focusing on affordability, a topic that the president dismissed as a Democratic hoax.
“They say ‘affordability,’ and everyone says, ‘Oh, that must mean Trump has high prices.’ No, our prices are coming down tremendously from the highest prices in the history of our country,” he said.
Rising energy, food and housing costs, which have dogged consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic, are sure to be a central theme in next year’s congressional campaigns.
“I have no higher priority than making America affordable again, that’s what we’re going to do,” Trump said 13 minutes into his talk. “They caused the high prices, and we’re bringing them down. It’s a simple message,” reported Peter Hall for the Pennsylvania Capitol-Star.
The speech was vintage Trump, full of humorous insults directed at many of his favorite targets, including the Leftwing media and his Democrat detractors.
"They said, he shouldn’t be traveling, he should focus on home, What the hell do they think I’m doing?”
The president said that it's “the stupid people” saying he shouldn’t be leaving the country. “Yeah, let’s sit around and twiddle our thumbs," he remarked.
Slamming the Democrats’ economic argument, Trump said, "Democrats talking about affordability is like Bonnie and Clyde preaching out public safety." He called them the “enemy of the working class."
In his remarks President Trump derided Democrats such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who he said was "one of the dumbest" state leaders in the country. Trump also laid into Rep. Ilhan Omar, who immigrated to the country from Somalia. Omar, he claimed, “does nothing but bitch.”
"She should get the hell out, throw her the hell out," Trump said. The declaration prompted unchallenged chants of, "Send her back."
Trump also brought up a fraud and money laundering investigation in Minnesota, in which most of the accused are of Somali descent.
“Get them the hell out of here. They hate our country. And she hates our country, and her friends hate our country, and AOC hates our country – they all do,” he said of Omar and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The President said later that he'd permanently paused migration from "hellholes" such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Somalia. The statement prompted an attendee to shout that they were "s---h---" nations. "I didn't say 's---h---' you did," Trump said, bringing up an incident from his first term.
"Remember, I said that to the senators," Trump said, referring to the vulgar term during a 2018 meeting at the White House that he suggested he did not make at the time. "I said, why is that we only take people from s---h--- countries. Why can't we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few, let us have a few, from Denmark . . . send us some nice people, do you mind?"
While the President was obviously having fun attacking his enemies in the press and on Capitol Hill, he also advanced the argument for his economic policies.
In a speech summary released by the White House, it was noted that since taking office, President Trump has made substantial progress reversing the inflation and cost-of-living disaster he inherited from the recklessness of the Biden Administration. Inflation has been cut by more than half, gas prices have fallen sharply, real wages are growing again, and key household expenses are finally heading in the right direction.
But President Trump was also clear: there is still important work ahead to ensure every American feels the full benefit of lower costs. While Democrats attempt to con Americans into believing they’re the champions of affordability, the reality is that Democrats created the problem — and President Trump is stopping at nothing to fix it.
On inflation…
President Trump tamed Biden’s inflation crisis — and is working to bring it down further.
On wages…
Under President Trump, Americans have made real wage gains — and work continues on reversing the damage they suffered under Biden.
On gas prices…
Americans are spending less on gas than they have in years — and this is only the beginning.
On housing costs…
Housing affordability is finally trending in the right direction.
On grocery prices…
Prices for everyday staples are starting to see price declines — and there’s much more to come.
The Trump Administration’s whole-of-government effort will continue driving prices down, boosting take-home pay, and strengthening the economy so all Americans can feel relief.
The President closed his remarks on the economy saying his Administration will not rest until the high prices that resulted from Democrat policies are fully reined in. “We’re making progress — and the best is yet to come.”
Large banners reading “Lower Prices” and “Bigger Paychecks” flanked the stage at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Monroe County. That’s in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District where Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan is running for reelection in 2026.
The rally, Trump’s first since July, was billed as focusing on affordability, a topic that the president dismissed as a Democratic hoax.
“They say ‘affordability,’ and everyone says, ‘Oh, that must mean Trump has high prices.’ No, our prices are coming down tremendously from the highest prices in the history of our country,” he said.
Rising energy, food and housing costs, which have dogged consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic, are sure to be a central theme in next year’s congressional campaigns.
“I have no higher priority than making America affordable again, that’s what we’re going to do,” Trump said 13 minutes into his talk. “They caused the high prices, and we’re bringing them down. It’s a simple message,” reported Peter Hall for the Pennsylvania Capitol-Star.
The speech was vintage Trump, full of humorous insults directed at many of his favorite targets, including the Leftwing media and his Democrat detractors.
"They said, he shouldn’t be traveling, he should focus on home, What the hell do they think I’m doing?”
The president said that it's “the stupid people” saying he shouldn’t be leaving the country. “Yeah, let’s sit around and twiddle our thumbs," he remarked.
Slamming the Democrats’ economic argument, Trump said, "Democrats talking about affordability is like Bonnie and Clyde preaching out public safety." He called them the “enemy of the working class."
In his remarks President Trump derided Democrats such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who he said was "one of the dumbest" state leaders in the country. Trump also laid into Rep. Ilhan Omar, who immigrated to the country from Somalia. Omar, he claimed, “does nothing but bitch.”
"She should get the hell out, throw her the hell out," Trump said. The declaration prompted unchallenged chants of, "Send her back."
Trump also brought up a fraud and money laundering investigation in Minnesota, in which most of the accused are of Somali descent.
“Get them the hell out of here. They hate our country. And she hates our country, and her friends hate our country, and AOC hates our country – they all do,” he said of Omar and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The President said later that he'd permanently paused migration from "hellholes" such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Somalia. The statement prompted an attendee to shout that they were "s---h---" nations. "I didn't say 's---h---' you did," Trump said, bringing up an incident from his first term.
"Remember, I said that to the senators," Trump said, referring to the vulgar term during a 2018 meeting at the White House that he suggested he did not make at the time. "I said, why is that we only take people from s---h--- countries. Why can't we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few, let us have a few, from Denmark . . . send us some nice people, do you mind?"
While the President was obviously having fun attacking his enemies in the press and on Capitol Hill, he also advanced the argument for his economic policies.
In a speech summary released by the White House, it was noted that since taking office, President Trump has made substantial progress reversing the inflation and cost-of-living disaster he inherited from the recklessness of the Biden Administration. Inflation has been cut by more than half, gas prices have fallen sharply, real wages are growing again, and key household expenses are finally heading in the right direction.
But President Trump was also clear: there is still important work ahead to ensure every American feels the full benefit of lower costs. While Democrats attempt to con Americans into believing they’re the champions of affordability, the reality is that Democrats created the problem — and President Trump is stopping at nothing to fix it.
On inflation…
President Trump tamed Biden’s inflation crisis — and is working to bring it down further.
- Under Biden, inflation averaged nearly 5% and hit 9.1% amid the worst inflation crisis in decades — fueled by the Radical Left’s obsession with spending.
- In President Trump’s second term, inflation has dropped to an average of just 2.7% — the critical first step in reversing Democrats’ cost-of-living disaster. In fact, under President Trump, Americans have even seen the first overall price decline since 2020.
On wages…
Under President Trump, Americans have made real wage gains — and work continues on reversing the damage they suffered under Biden.
- Under Biden, Americans workers lost over $2,900 in purchasing power because inflation rose faster than wages.
- In President Trump’s second term — even after accounting for higher prices — Americans’ real wages have grown by nearly 4% — or nearly $700 — and are on track to grow by nearly $1,200 after his first full year in office.
On gas prices…
Americans are spending less on gas than they have in years — and this is only the beginning.
- Under Biden, gas prices were the highest they had ever been — even after he drained our strategic reserves to artificially decrease prices.
- In President Trump’s second term, gas prices have fallen to the lowest average price in 1,682 days and Americans on track to spend the lowest amount of their disposable income on gas in the last two decades. In fact, average gas prices have dipped below $3 per gallon in 36 states, below $2.75 per gallon in 20 states, and below $2.50 per gallon in five states — with prices below $2 per gallon at some stations in at least four states.
On housing costs…
Housing affordability is finally trending in the right direction.
- Under Biden, mortgage rates hit their highest in decades as rents surged.
- At the beginning of December, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.19% — 12% lower than when President Trump took office in January. According to the Consumer Price Index, shelter inflation is at a four-year low, and the national median rent has fallen for four straight months.
On grocery prices…
Prices for everyday staples are starting to see price declines — and there’s much more to come.
- Under President Trump, prices for eggs, butter, ice cream, fresh fruit, cereal, fish, seafood, rice, pasta, and ham have all seen declines.
The Trump Administration’s whole-of-government effort will continue driving prices down, boosting take-home pay, and strengthening the economy so all Americans can feel relief.
- President Trump signed into law the largest tax cuts in American history. This includes No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and No Tax on Social Security — all of which will save Americans money in their tax returns. This landmark legislation will raise Americans’ take-home pay by as much as $13,300 and wages by as much as $11,600. In fact, thanks to the landmark law, millions of Americans will see higher tax refunds — with the average refund estimated to increase by about $1,000 per filer.
- President Trump’s deregulatory efforts are saving Americans a collective $180 billion — or $2,100 per family of four. For example, President Trump halted burdensome Biden-era efficiency standards that jacked up the price of everyday appliances.
- American consumers are thriving. Consumer sentiment is back on the rise and small business optimism is spiking amid record holiday shoppers and sales.
- President Trump is bringing jobs and investment back to the U.S. Since President Trump took office, companies have invested trillions of dollars into their U.S.-based operations — onshoring and creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs for Americans.
- 1.9 million more American-born workers are employed today than when President Trump took office. Right now, the U.S. has more people working now than at any time in the history of our country.
- President Trump is reducing the deficit. A combination of spending cuts, interest savings, economic growth, and tariff revenues are expected to reduce the deficit by trillions of dollars — resulting in higher take-home pay, lower interest rates, and a stronger economy.
The President closed his remarks on the economy saying his Administration will not rest until the high prices that resulted from Democrat policies are fully reined in. “We’re making progress — and the best is yet to come.”
