Donald Trump’s Yuletide message lacked poetry, instead delivering a seasonal dose of his most dystopian rhetoric. The US president sought to distract from his own political slump by claiming he had fixed the country, which has pulled his approval rating down to 39% since taking office. However, his speech was met with criticism for being familiar to his loyal base voters and failing to address the struggles Americans face with high prices, housing, and healthcare.
Trump declared that his administration had brought more positive change than any in American history, but the data he provided was often exaggerated or wrong. New government data showed that inflation unexpectedly cooled to 2.7% in November compared to a year earlier. Despite this, grocery prices aren’t down across the board, and millions of Americans are struggling with huge price hikes for health insurance.
Trump’s skills as a branding expert may be failing him, particularly in convincing people that he has made progress in easing their plight. His message of blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the current economic state is unlikely to resonate with voters. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 57% of Americans believe Trump is more responsible for the economy’s current state than Biden.
The president’s speech was defensive and self-pitying, which may not be a winning political strategy. He should focus on his successes, such as lowering gas prices, and temper his message to address the challenges facing the country. With his tax cuts set to kick in next year, Trump may still have reason to hope that the tide will turn in 2026. However, deep economic challenges remain, including rising costs of living and stagnant wage growth.
Trump’s statement that he has made America “great again” rings hollow when many voters are struggling with affordability issues. The president’s message needs to be more convincing if he hopes to regain public faith in his ability to manage the economy.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/trump-address-economy-affordability-inflation-analysis