On a Tuesday in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono that mixed economic boasts with controversial immigration remarks.
Trump’s Inflation Rhetoric
The former president told the crowd that inflation was no longer a problem and that Democrats had weaponized the word “affordability” as a hoax to damage his reputation. He said, “They caused the high prices and we’re bringing them down,” while displaying a chart that compared price increases under President Joe Biden with those that had occurred during his own administration. The chart was meant to illustrate how his policies had curbed inflation, although the overall rate had risen since tariffs were announced in April.
Controversial Immigration Comments
Trump also returned to a grievance he first raised in 2018. He asked, “Why is it we only take people from s—-hole countries, right? Why can’t we have some people from Norway, Sweden, just a few?” He went on to criticize immigrants from Afghanistan, Haiti and Somalia, calling those places “hellholes” and describing them as “disaster, filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.”
Rally Setting and Political Context
The event was an official White House gathering but felt more like a campaign rally. It took place in a conference‑center ballroom at the Mount Airy Casino Resort, a town of about 3,000 residents. The rally fell in a swing state and a competitive House district, and the White House has been trying to reassure voters that the economy will strengthen next year and that inflation is not the president’s fault.
Monroe County, which had voted for Biden in 2020 but flipped to Trump last year, helped the GOP win Pennsylvania and return the president to the White House after a four‑year hiatus. The county relies heavily on tourism and its proximity to New York City, which attracts people seeking more affordable housing.
Local Residents’ Views
Not everyone in Monroe County is convinced that Trump can lower prices. Lou Heddy, a 72‑year‑old retired maintenance mechanic, said his grocery bill rose from $175 to $200 in the past month and added, “Once the prices get up for food, they don’t ever come back down. That’s just the way I feel. I don’t know how the hell he would do it.”
Suzanne Vena, a 66‑year‑old Democratic voter, blamed tariffs for making life more expensive. She remembered Trump saying he would stop inflation and said, “That’s what we were originally told. Did I believe it? That’s another question. I did not.”
Nick Riley, 38, said he was cutting back on luxuries like dining out because of higher bills for food and electricity. He noted, “We’re all broke. It doesn’t matter whether you support Republicans or support Democrats. We’re all broke, and we’re all feeling it.”
Upcoming Midterms and Campaign Strategy
Trump’s rally was held in a district represented by first‑term Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a top target for Democrats. Bresnahan told the crowd that the administration was working to lower costs, but voters were looking for results rather than partisan arguments. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat, is running for the nomination to challenge him.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles appeared on the conservative talk show “The Mom View” and said Trump would be on the campaign trail next year to engage supporters who might otherwise sit out a congressional race. Wiles said, “We’re actually going to turn that on its head, and put him on the ballot because so many of those low‑propensity voters are Trump voters.”
Economy, Public Perception, and Trump’s Self‑Assessment
The U.S. economy has shown resilience with a rising stock market and solid growth in the third quarter. The administration expects inflation to fade next year with investments in artificial intelligence and manufacturing. A November survey by the Associated Press‑NORC Center found that only 33% of adults approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
Trump told the crowd that tariffs were helping industries such as steel and urged Americans to buy fewer overseas products. He said, “You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice.”
When asked on a Politico podcast how he would rate the economy, Trump answered, “A-plus,” and then amended to, “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump dismissed inflation as a problem and blamed Democrats for using the term as a hoax.
- He made controversial immigration comments, calling for more Scandinavian immigrants and criticizing those from Afghanistan, Haiti and Somalia.
- Local residents in Monroe County expressed skepticism about Trump’s ability to lower prices, citing rising grocery bills and the impact of tariffs.
- The rally occurred in a swing state district that is a key target for Democrats in the upcoming midterms.
- Trump’s self‑assessment of the economy is overly optimistic, with a public approval rating of only 33%.
The rally highlighted the divide between Trump’s economic rhetoric and the lived experiences of voters in a county that could tip the balance of the House in next year’s midterm elections.
