Trump and GOP Dismiss Election Losses, Deny Affordability Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Republican leaders are rejecting concerns over affordability and recent election losses, doubling down on loyalty to President Trump. Despite voter anxiety about inflation and rising costs, Trump insists the economy is strong and consumer prices are falling. Critics within the party warn that ignoring economic concerns could further alienate voters heading into the 2026 midterms.
Quick Look: Trump’s GOP Dismisses Affordability Concerns, Election Setbacks
- Main Message: GOP leaders reject concerns over rising costs and recent election losses, rallying behind Trump’s economic message.
- Trump’s Stance: Claims economy is strong, prices are falling, and the party is “the Party of Affordability.”
- Election Results: Republicans lost key races in GA, NJ, PA, and VA — but party leaders blame Democratic turnout, not policy failures.
- Internal GOP Messaging: Advises candidates to stick with Trump’s agenda and downplay affordability concerns.
- Contradictions: Voter surveys show inflation is a top issue; grocery prices are still rising despite Trump’s claims.
- 2026 Outlook: GOP unity behind Trump remains high, but critics warn ignoring economic realities could cost votes.
Trump’s GOP Dismisses Election Losses, Denies Affordability Crisis
Deep Look
NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly two weeks after disappointing Republican election results in key states like Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, top GOP leaders are insisting there’s nothing wrong with their message, their candidates, or President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Trump has dismissed concerns about inflation and affordability as Democratic talking points, accusing the media and political opponents of misleading voters. Instead of recalibrating, the Republican Party is rallying around Trump’s message and promoting his economic record ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
This conclusion is based on internal briefings, talking points, and strategy discussions involving top Republican leaders and White House officials. The messaging shift shows just how tightly the party remains tethered to Trump, now a term-limited president, who continues to tout what he claims is a booming economy under his leadership—even as many Americans say they feel otherwise.
Republican National Committee spokesperson Kiersten Pels reinforced this alignment, stating, “Republicans are entering next year more unified behind President Trump than ever before.” She emphasized Trump’s popularity and ability to drive voter turnout, calling him “the strongest path to victory.”
Still, Trump’s approval ratings mirror those of past presidents at similar points in their terms. Both Barack Obama and George W. Bush had similar numbers ahead of major midterm losses.
Trump Insists There’s No Affordability Crisis
In the wake of Election Day setbacks, Trump has begun talking more about consumer costs. On Friday, he announced tariff cuts on beef and other commodities, positioning himself as a champion of affordability. He repeated claims that the economy is thriving and inflation is under control.
“We have a great economy and the prices are coming down,” Trump told reporters Sunday before boarding Air Force One in Florida. He blamed Democrats for what he described as historically high inflation and claimed that under his leadership, prices are now falling.
In a recent social media post, Trump declared, “We are the Party of Affordability,” and claimed Thanksgiving dinner costs would be down by 25%. However, grocery prices remain up 2.7% over last year, contradicting his statement.
According to AP VoteCast, economic concerns were the top issue for voters in this month’s elections.
Republican strategist Doug Heye cautioned that Trump’s dismissive tone on the economy could be damaging.
“Republicans need to relay to voters that they understand what they’re going through and that they’re trying to fix it,” Heye said. “That can be hard to do when the president takes a nonmetaphorical wrecking ball to portions of the White House.”
He added that candidates who don’t focus on kitchen-table issues risk being ignored by voters, pointing to Virginia’s gubernatorial race as an example.
On the Ground: Affordability Still Dominates
Not all Republicans share Trump’s narrative. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who recently launched a campaign for governor, said affordability is the overwhelming concern among her constituents. While acknowledging support for GOP cultural priorities such as banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, she emphasized that voters are focused on economic struggles.
“All of our messaging is about the high taxes and spending, the unaffordability,” Stefanik told the Associated Press.
When asked whether she supports Trump’s threat to send National Guard troops into New York, Stefanik avoided specifics but said, “It wouldn’t need to happen if there was a Republican governor.”
She also said New York voters remain supportive of Trump, noting his past election strength in the state.
Official GOP Messaging: Stay the Course
The Republican National Committee circulated internal talking points downplaying the party’s losses and focusing on Trump’s influence. The memo claims the GOP remains stronger than ever under Trump and blames Democratic voter advantages for the defeats in swing states.
It also argues that Trump’s approval is higher than his predecessors—claims contradicted by polling data. An Associated Press-NORC poll this month found Trump’s approval at 36%, slightly better than the same point in his first term, but still lower than where Obama and Bush stood at similar points in their presidencies.
Historically, both Obama and Bush suffered major losses in their final midterms, despite similar approval levels.
Even so, the RNC memo encourages candidates to fully embrace Trump’s platform. “These elections were not a referendum on President Trump, Republicans in Congress, or the MAGA Agenda,” the memo states. “To win in 2026, Make America Great Again voters will need to show up at the ballot box; President Trump and Republicans are going to make that happen.”
Outlook Ahead
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Republicans face a familiar challenge: how to balance their loyalty to Trump with voter demands for tangible solutions to everyday struggles. For now, the party leadership appears to be betting that standing by Trump is still the most viable path forward.
But if voters’ economic frustrations continue to grow, the price of that loyalty could be steep.
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