Trump’s economic pitch stalls as costs bite and war drags on

New POLITICO/Public First polling shows Americans remain skeptical of Trump’s economic message even as the economy shows some positive indicators; most respondents say the cost of living has worsened and inflation is driving that pressure. Republicans’ attempts to blame Biden aren’t resonating, with only about 28% attributing the economy primarily to Trump, while the Iran war dominates economic questions and risks dragging Trump’s midterm prospects as gas, food, and travel prices stay high. The May survey sampled 2,065 U.S. adults, underscoring the challenge of translating economic signals into political support amid foreign-policy headwinds.