Trump plays the blame game. Takeaways from his primetime address.
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump delivered a forceful defense of his first 11 months in office during a primetime address from the White House, pointing the finger at Democrats for Americans' economic anxieties in a combative speech that sets the tone for the 2026 midterm elections.
"Boy, are we making progress," Trump said Dec. 17 in a speech focused heavily on the affordability issue that has increasingly bedeviled his administration and threatens his party's electoral chances next year.
Trump blamed the problem on his White House predecessor and immigrants without legal status, as polls show Americans are increasingly losing confidence in his economic stewardship, as inflation recently rose to 3%.
The president's brief address - it clocked in at under 20 minutes - often looked backward as he mentioned former President Joe Biden seven times, pillorying a leader he claimed made
"Life is unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans."
"This happened during a Democrat administration, and it's when we first began hearing the word affordability," Trump said.
Trump's comments come as the economy is showing signs of weakening, with unemployment climbing to 4.6% in November, the highest level since September 2021. The president's approval rating has simultaneously dipped, with just 36% of Americans approving of his economic stewardship, according to a December NPR/Marist poll.
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