"Trump will sell anything. He has now made one of the most consequential decisions of his presidency: launching a war against Iran. The conflict, which is well into its second week, has widened throughout the Middle East, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and caused tumult in the financial markets. Yet Trump has not sold the war. In many ways, he hasn't even tried."
"The upcoming midterm elections were supposed to be about the economy. That was perhaps Trump's most effective issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, as voters grew frustrated with the stubborn inflation that permeated Joe Biden's presidency. Trump vowed to fix it, but his record over the past 15 months is inconsistent: Yes, inflation has cooled some, but last month's jobs report was brutal."
"Republicans have been on a losing streak in a series of elections, and poll after poll reveals a clear disapproval of Trump's handling of the economy. But there were some real silver linings. Chief among them: gas prices."
Trump, known for marketing ventures throughout his career, has launched a military conflict with Iran that has escalated across the Middle East, raised oil prices, and disrupted financial markets. However, unlike his typical promotional approach, Trump has not actively sold this war to the American public. This absence of a sales strategy is particularly puzzling given the political stakes surrounding upcoming midterm elections. The economy was expected to dominate campaign discussions, but Trump's economic record shows mixed results: inflation has declined somewhat, yet recent job reports were disappointing, tariffs have increased costs and created uncertainty, and economic benefits remain concentrated among the wealthy. Republicans face electoral challenges with declining approval ratings for Trump's economic management, though gas prices present a potential political advantage.
Read at The Atlantic
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]