WASHINGTON — Amid slumping approval ratings, President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday, using the speech to go after his predecessor and insist his economic plan is working despite high prices.
Using an 18-minute address from the White House, Trump aired his grievances against the Biden administration, touted what he called an improving economy and announcing a bonus to U.S. service members.
“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” he said. “After just one year, we have achieved more than anyone could have imagined.”
Trump said more than 1.4 million military service members will receive a “warrior dividend” — a $1,776 check.
“And the checks are already on the way,” he said. “No one understood that one until about 30 minutes ago; we made a lot more money than anyone thought because of tariffs.”
Trump bashed the Biden administration on immigration, crime and the economy — a key concern for Americans, according to recent polls. Despite polls showing 46 percent of Americans blame the Trump administration for the economic woes, he attempted to persuade the nation that former President Joe Biden left behind “a mess” that will take time and effort to fix.
Americans are stressed by the cost of living and unhappy with Trump’s efforts to steer the country toward prosperity.
An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll conducted this month found that 61% of those surveyed said the economy was not working well for them personally, compared with just 39% who said it was. Overall, 70% said the cost of living where they live is not very affordable or not affordable at all.
Wednesday’s remarks come as Trump faces low approval ratings, particularly on the economy, amid a slowdown in hiring and an uptick in inflation.
A Quinnipiac University poll published Wednesday found most Americans said the economy is the most urgent issue facing the country today. 40% of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling his job while 54% disapprove, according to the poll.
“Our nation is strong. America is respected, and our country is back stronger than ever before,” Trump said. “We’re poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.”
“It’s not done yet, but boy, are we making progress,” he added. “Nobody can believe what’s going on.”
The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, the highest it has been in the last five years.
