US President Donald Trump acknowledged that he had failed in explaining his economic record to the public, as his approval ratings decline amid a sharp rise in gasoline prices ahead of the midterm elections in November.
Trump made the remarks during a White House event marking Hispanic Heritage Month, saying he had done a “very bad job” of explaining how well the country was doing, while insisting that the United States was in better shape than ever.
The comments come as Trump prepares for an intense 32-day campaign to support Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine whether his party retains control of Congress.
Trump noted that the party in power typically loses congressional seats in the first election held after a presidential election, urging his supporters to vote to reverse that trend.
Despite his public confidence, a growing number of voters are giving Trump low ratings in opinion polls, citing his handling of an economy affected by tariff policies and the war with Iran, which has sharply pushed up energy prices.
The Conference Board said consumer confidence in the United States fell in September to its lowest level in about 12 and a half years, with households expecting business conditions and the labor market to deteriorate over the next six months.
Pessimism about the labor market persists despite faster job growth in August following a slowdown through much of the summer. Home prices have also risen, while higher mortgage rates have added to financial pressures.
Trump is heading to Texas and Oklahoma and plans to visit Alabama on Friday and Ohio on Saturday as part of his tour to support Republican candidates.
Trump made the remarks during a White House event marking Hispanic Heritage Month, saying he had done a “very bad job” of explaining how well the country was doing, while insisting that the United States was in better shape than ever.
The comments come as Trump prepares for an intense 32-day campaign to support Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine whether his party retains control of Congress.
Trump noted that the party in power typically loses congressional seats in the first election held after a presidential election, urging his supporters to vote to reverse that trend.
Despite his public confidence, a growing number of voters are giving Trump low ratings in opinion polls, citing his handling of an economy affected by tariff policies and the war with Iran, which has sharply pushed up energy prices.
The Conference Board said consumer confidence in the United States fell in September to its lowest level in about 12 and a half years, with households expecting business conditions and the labor market to deteriorate over the next six months.
Pessimism about the labor market persists despite faster job growth in August following a slowdown through much of the summer. Home prices have also risen, while higher mortgage rates have added to financial pressures.
Trump is heading to Texas and Oklahoma and plans to visit Alabama on Friday and Ohio on Saturday as part of his tour to support Republican candidates.
