If you’re curious as to why President Donald Trump has made his way to Pennsylvania to chat about affordability, and why he’s setting up rallies across the nation, take a gander at a simple query from the new Harvard CAPS Harris poll: “What would you say are the most important issues facing the country today?”
The poll allowed respondents to name more than one issue. Leading the pack, a whopping 36 percent identified price increases, inflation, and affordability as their top concern. Second place, with 29 percent, went to the economy and jobs. Combine the two, and it’s clear economic issues are the foremost worries of voters.
Beyond economics, other issues also hold importance, though they lag behind: health care, immigration, corruption, crime and drugs, federal budget deficits, terrorism and national security, taxes, and guns.
At the bottom of the list, with fewer than 5 percent of respondents naming them, we find: foreign policy at 4 percent; political correctness and cancel culture also at 4 percent; the Israel-Hamas-Iran conflict at 4 percent; defense at 3 percent; policing at 3 percent; January 6th at 3 percent; and antisemitism at 2 percent.
It’s hardly surprising that the economy and affordability top the list. As an election year approaches, Trump’s spotlight on affordability speaks volumes. Many voters, including some of his supporters, feel he ought to focus more on these pressing issues.
Trump argues, quite rightly, that he’s tackling the aftermath of Joe Biden’s economic policies. “We’re bringing prices way down,” Trump stated. “Call it ‘affordability’ if you like, but the Democrats caused this, and we’re the ones fixing it.”
A tricky affair indeed: when inflation decreases, prices continue to rise, though at a slower pace. Under Biden, inflation soared to a shocking 9.1 percent. Although the inflation rate has since decreased to 3 percent, prices still climb, just not as steeply as during Biden’s tenure.
Biden and his allies often boasted of declining inflation. Voters, however, felt the sting of rising prices. The solution was not in bellowing misleading claims, but rather in pairing low inflation with rapidly rising wages.
Trump has made commendable advances. “Wages are rising faster than prices,” noted Larry Kudlow, a former Trump economic adviser. Latest numbers show wage income at 5.3 percent. The Fed’s inflation measure stands at 2.7 percent. Thus, take-home pay now surpasses prices by 2.6 percent, promising more benefits on the horizon.
Nonetheless, it will take more time for wages to mitigate the impact of Biden’s inflation. Trump’s tariffs also caused some price increases, albeit less than anticipated. With less than a year to go until the 2026 midterms, Trump is banking on these economic gains manifesting into reality.
Trump’s economic blueprint is straightforward: cut taxes, slash regulation, and make energy cheaper. Energy price reductions hold the key to taming inflation. “Energy has come down incredibly,” Trump informed Politico. “When energy prices fall, everything else follows suit.”
As 2026 nears, Trump emphasises affordability. While other matters also demand attention, listening to the voters’ concerns remains paramount.
political correspondent for …
