Trump Says 2026 Midterms Center on Pricing Issues/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump told POLITICO that the 2026 midterm elections will be dominated by “pricing” and cost‑of‑living concerns, asserting his administration has succeeded in reducing inflation and energy costs. He pointed to recent economic growth and cooling price increases as evidence of progress. Trump also renewed his call to eliminate the Senate filibuster to avert a potential government shutdown and advance GOP priorities.
Midterm Elections and the Economy Quick Looks
- Trump says the 2026 midterms will focus on “pricing” and falling costs
- He credits his administration with lowering inflation and gasoline prices
- Recent economic data include 4.3% GDP growth and 2.7% inflation
- Polls show many Americans still struggle with daily expenses
- Trump blames Democrats for past price increases under Biden
- He argues the filibuster is obstructing governance and GOP goals
- Trump suggests eliminating the filibuster to prevent a shutdown
- He also says scrapping it could enable voter ID laws
- Some Senate Republicans defend the filibuster as a safeguard
- Debate intensifies over controlling Congress and GOP strategy
Trump Says 2026 Midterms Center on Pricing Issues
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump told POLITICO on Friday that the 2026 midterm elections will be shaped primarily by economic concerns — especially “pricing,” including costs for energy, goods, and services. With control of Congress at stake, Trump says voters will judge candidates based on whether they feel the economy has improved under his leadership.
“I think it’s going to be about the success of our country. It’ll be about pricing,” Trump said. “Because, you know, they gave us high pricing, and we’re bringing it down. Energy’s way down. Gasoline is way down.”
Trump’s comments come amid a series of strong economic indicators that the White House has highlighted in recent weeks. Government data released this month showed that inflation cooled to 2.7 percent in November, the lowest year‑over‑year increase in several months, and the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter.
“You saw the 4.3 percent? The Democrats were exploding. Their heads were exploding,” Trump said, celebrating the growth figures as a political advantage.
Economic Message and Political Strategy
Despite positive data, many Americans still feel financial strain. A POLITICO poll conducted last month by Public First found that nearly half of respondents reported difficulty affording groceries, utility bills, health care, housing, and transportation — persistent cost pressures that Trump’s opponents have used to criticize GOP economic policy.
Trump has shifted his messaging in recent weeks, reframing the narrative to focus on price declines and arguing that Democrats under President Joe Biden were responsible for recent spikes in costs. He repeatedly pointed to decreases in key areas:
- Gasoline prices falling nationwide
- Energy costs trending downward
- Electricity costs moving lower as fuel prices ease
“Electricity is down. It’s way down,” Trump said, arguing that declines in oil and gas costs naturally lead to broader price reductions.
Still, some economists note that utility rates and electricity costs are often set by state regulators and private companies, making them less directly tied to national economic policy.
Filibuster Fight and Government Shutdown Warning
In the interview, Trump also addressed looming political battles on Capitol Hill, including the threat of a government shutdown at the end of January if spending bills are not passed.
The president renewed his call to eliminate the Senate filibuster, a long‑standing procedural rule that requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Trump argues that the filibuster has become a barrier to governance and must be removed to allow the GOP to pass key priorities.
“The filibuster is hurting the Republican Party,” Trump said, calling on Senate Republicans to scrap it “without question.”
He claimed that ending the filibuster would not only help avert a shutdown but also pave the way for legislation such as voter ID requirements and other GOP goals:
“If you get rid of the filibuster, you’re not going to have a shutdown. You can do everything. You can do great health care if you get rid of the filibuster. We can do everything we want.”
However, some Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, have defended the filibuster as a key institutional safeguard that ensures deliberation and protects minority rights in the Senate. The internal GOP debate highlights the tension between Trump’s aggressive push for change and more traditional conservative lawmakers who favor preserving longstanding Senate norms.
Political Implications Ahead of 2026
As Republicans prepare for the midterm elections — typically a referendum on the sitting president and national priorities — Trump is staking much of the party’s success on economic messaging. By emphasizing price trends, he aims to shift the political conversation from culture and immigration issues to everyday concerns about household finances.
Whether voters respond positively to Trump’s framing of the economy could influence not just who controls Congress but also how the GOP positions itself heading into the 2028 presidential election cycle.
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