Trump admits he has 'fallen short' in communicating his economic policies

WASHINGTON, 1 OCTOBER 2026 —

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 – U.S. President Donald Trump told a crowd at a White House Hispanic Heritage Month event that he had “done a very bad job of explaining how good the country is doing,” as his approval rating falls amid high gasoline prices ahead of the November midterm elections.

Trump made the remark while launching a 32‑day campaign tour for Republican candidates that will culminate on Nov. 3, when voters will decide whether the GOP retains control of Congress. He said the party in power “usually loses congressional seats in the first election after a presidential election” and urged supporters to turn out at the polls.

The president’s comment came as recent polls show growing public dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. The Conference Board reported on Tuesday that U.S. consumer confidence slipped to a near 12½‑year low in September, with households expecting a deterioration in business and labor‑market conditions over the next six months. Despite an acceleration in job growth in August after a summer slowdown, consumers remain downbeat on the labor market.

Home prices have risen, adding pressure as mortgage rates climb.

Trump linked the economic mood to his global tariff policies and the war on Iran, which he said has driven energy prices higher. “We’re not getting the word out,” he said, referring to his view of the administration’s economic stewardship. “I’m going out because nobody’s selling it. We’re doing an extremely poor job of promotion, and an extremely great job of running the country. But we’ll get the word out. It should not be hard.”

The president’s itinerary includes stops in Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday, Alabama on Friday and Ohio on Saturday, as the Republican Party pours millions of dollars into seats that were once considered safe but are now viewed as competitive. Trump’s remarks underscore the campaign’s focus on boosting voter turnout for Republican candidates amid concerns that the economic fallout from the Iran conflict is eroding support for the party.

Related: White House · Donald Trump · Washington