MOUNT POCONO, Pa. — He had charts that he read from, touting economic data. The stage around him was filled with signs reading, “Lower Prices Bigger Paychecks.” He introduced Pennsylvanians who he said had more take-home pay because of his policies.
But if he was supposed to launch a speaking tour to clearly connect with Americans struggling with higher prices and stagnant wages, President Donald Trump didn’t hesitate to veer off course.
He mocked the word “affordability,” touted how high the stock market had risen, and said Americans didn’t need so many pencils. He launched into a number of digressions to disparage the country of Somalia, the concept of climate change and the news media in the back of the room.
Trump spoke from a 1,200-capacity ballroom at the Mount Airy Resort and Casino in the Pocono Mountains for what White House officials have suggested would be a kickoff to promote Trump’s economic policies — and an attempt to wrangle an issue that become a political liability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Instead, the 90-minute speech was a greatest hits of his campaign trail appearances — complimenting the power of his chief of staff Susie Wiles and “the lips that don’t stop” of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — with occasional nods to the current economic anxieties. He promoted his trade policies, without speaking to the impact they’ve had on consumer prices, and he promised lower energy costs.
“We inherited the highest prices ever, and we’re bringing them down,” he said several times.
“We’re getting inflation — we’re crushing it, and you’re getting much higher wages,” he said. “I mean, the only thing that is really going up big, it’s called the stock market and your 401(k).”
While suggesting prices were no longer going up, Trump also ridiculed Democrats for suggesting that voters cared about affordability, an issue that was a focus of their successful campaigns last month in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City.
“They said, ‘Oh he doesn’t realize prices are higher.’ Prices are coming down very substantially,” Trump said. “But they have a new word. You know, they always have a hoax. The new word is affordability. So they look at the camera and they say, ‘This election is all about affordability.’”
Later, he attempted to clarify.
“I can’t say affordability is a hoax because I agree the prices were too high. So I can’t go to call it a hoax because they’ll misconstrue that,” he said. “But they use the word affordability. And that’s the only word they say. Affordability. And that’s their only word. 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.”
Trump also returned to a comment he made earlier in his presidency, saying that Americans needed to go without.
“You know, you can give up certain products. You can give up pencils,” he said, suggesting that he was focused on promoting American-made steel while China was focused on providing multiple pencils to its citizens.
“You always need steel. You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter,” he said. “Two or three is nice, but you don’t need 37 dolls. So, we’re doing things right. We’re running this country right well.”
The casino is in Monroe County, which Trump lost to Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020 but narrowly won over Harris in 2024. It was an overwhelmingly supportive audience, with the crowd laughing along and at one point erupting into chants of “Four more years! Four more years!”
“We have three years and two months,” he says. “You know what that’s called in Trump time? Eternity.”
Trump also went on a tirade about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), ridiculing her Somali heritage.
“She comes in, does nothing but bitch. She’s always complaining,” Trump said. “She comes from a country where, I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right?”
He later ridiculed the congresswoman for saying Trump’s comments were discriminatory.
“Let me tell you, Black people love Trump,” he said, and then added: “They know a scam better than anybody.”
He also mentioned pausing migration from 19 countries the administration has deemed high-risk, saying that it included “hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia, and many other countries,” a comment that triggered a member of the crowd to yell out, “s–thole countries!”
Trump recounted the comment he made to senators during an Oval Office meeting in 2018.
“I said, ‘Why is it we only take people from s–thole countries, right?’” Trump recounted. “’Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few. Let us have a few from Denmark. Do you mind sending us a few people? Send us some nice people. Do you mind?’ But we always take people from Somalia. Places that are a disaster, right? Filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.”
Rep. Omar responded with a sharp post on Bluesky that said the president “continues to be a national embarrassment.”
“Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird,” she wrote. “He needs serious help. Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead.”
Ahead of the speech, the nearby casino was filled with dozens of people, some with large iced Dunkin’ coffees in their hands and others with Marlboros in their mouths. As the loud din of electronic games filled the room, visitors crowded around craps tables or sat at the slots and, every five seconds, mashed a button that read, “PLAY.”
Joel Ramich, a 76-year-old from Boonton Township, New Jersey, said he predicts tariffs will pump more money into the economy, increased drilling will cut energy prices and immigration crackdowns will restrict federal spending on noncitizens.
“I love the guy,” he said, after putting down a cigar. “I’m not concerned.”
Rose Mary Migli, a 73-year-old retired bartender from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, said her visits to the casino have increased.
“You’ve got to be in it to win it,” she says, while conceding she’s not winning it at the moment.
“It’s not going well,” she says with a smile. “I should stay home.”
“I voted for him,” she says of Trump. “I wish he could do better.”
There has been criticism that the America-first president has focused too much on foreign affairs, reveling in FIFA awarding him its newly created peace prize. Trump rebutted those claims, saying his global travels were important because they were resulting in more foreign investment in the United States.
“They said, ‘He shouldn’t be traveling. He should focus on home,’” Trump said. “What the hell do you think I’m doing?”
The dangers to Trump have appeared in recent weeks as his advisers have urged him to speak more about affordability, but the challenges are clear for a politician who rose to power largely by tapping populist anger and accusing his predecessor of not addressing inflation.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 62 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump’s economic performance, while 37 percent approved of it.
Trump has attempted a bit of a course correction, easing tariffs on Brazilian coffee, fruit and beef in an effort to lower grocery costs and rolling back fuel efficiency rules in hopes of making cars less expensive.
The recent government shutdown has meant data on prices has been spotty, although the limited information has showed signs of trouble. A report released in October showed that inflation had heated up to 3 percent annually, a pace not seen since January.
At a grocery store a few miles from where Trump spoke, the aisles were full of customers holding coupons as Christmas carols played in the background. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that the price of beef has gone up.
“Meat? Forget it. It’s ridiculous!” said Beverly, an 81-year-old retired special education teacher.
“Last week I saw a $20-per-pound filet,” said Steve, a retiree.
There was universal dismay at the prices of electricity. If gas prices are down, they haven’t noticed. But there were differing opinions over how much Trump is to blame.
“Let him do what he needs. It can’t be any worse than what we went through already,” said Shawn Rementer, a 59-year-old energy auditor from Tobyhanna, who said prices have repeatedly gone up but he doesn’t blame Trump. “He’s only been here 10, 11 months. Let’s give him his full term.”
John Kauchak, 72-year-old retired banker from Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, took note that his $3.69 egg purchase is about $4 cheaper than it was a few months back. But his energy prices have doubled.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Prices have gone up. Wages haven’t caught up. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Kauchak never really expected Trump would be able to lower prices, and he doesn’t think the president does a particularly good job speaking to middle-class Americans.
“He’s very optimistic. He’s a salesman. When the sky is literally falling, they say, ‘It’s okay, they’ll pick it back up.’ But he has a lot of work to do.”
Alec Dent and Naftali Bendavid contributed to this report.
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