President Donald Trump is planning a nationwide tour to defend his economic agenda to voters, amid rising discontent over the cost of living, reported Axios on Thursday.
This comes after a number of election scares for Republicans, including blistering losses around the country in November, and a special election this week that saw Democrats coming within single digits of flipping of Tennessee seat Trump won by 22 points.
"Trump's approval rating has sunk as he has pursued peace deals around the globe and 'narco-terrorists' in the Caribbean, while Americans have become more pessimistic about affording a better life," said the report. "With Republicans in danger of losing control of the House next November, Trump needs to be a lift — not a drag — in tough districts if the GOP is to defy powerful historic trends and keep its majority."
The president will kick off this campaign with a stop in northeast Pennsylvania next Tuesday.
" White House aides see Trump as the Republican Party's best salesman — and its best chance to reverse falling poll numbers for both the president and his party," said the report. "Trump is expected to use Tuesday's event to highlight what he's done to help the economy during his second term in office. But aides privately acknowledge that there's more to be done to address cost-of-living concerns — and say that on his trip, Trump also will preview upcoming plans."
All of this comes at the same time that the House GOP is in turmoil, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) trying to quell a revolt by Republicans, many of them women, frustrated at their lack of input in leadership.
