This fall's midterm election is a referendum on President Donald Trump, according to a veteran journalist, and he's not making things easy for Republicans trying to hold onto their congressional majorities.
Polling has made clear that affordability remains the top voter concern, and Punchbowl News co-founder John Bresnahan told "CNN News Central" that Republicans on Capitol Hill, whom he's covered for decades, were aghast when Trump declared "I love inflation" during an Oval Office event.
"Oh yeah, Trump is the issueof the election," Bresnahan said. "I mean, he isthe biggest issue. His conduct,the war, his handling the economy,his conduct in office. I've gotto tell you, I was on the Hillyesterday when he made thosecomments and they went throughthe Capitol pretty quickly, andit was just, you know, every Republican just winced. They're upset."
Trump was re-elected to a second term on a promise to fix the economy on Day One, but a year and a half later, voters have soured on his handling of the affordability crisis.
"The messaging they're hearingout of the White House is notabout inflation," the well-connected reporter said. "It's not aboutthe economy. It's not about Americans' financial status, their overdue credit cardpayments. They're struggling topay for school, and every daythat Trump is out talking about Iran, he's talking talkingabout other issues, he'stalking about the 2020 electionsis a disaster for Hill Republicans. They're just – it'sa big problem for them."
"Speaker Mike Johnson can talk, you know,say Trump's labors are focusedon inflation, but the Americanpublic doesn't think so, Congress doesn't think so – eventhe Republicans in Congress,I'll tell you that," Bresnhan added. "So this isa big problem for them."