US President Donald Trump has acknowledged difficulty explaining his economic record as rising fuel prices intensify pressure on American households. The economic strain comes as the Iran war disrupts energy supplies and consumer confidence falls sharply.
Trump made the remarks while preparing for a 32-day campaign push ahead of the November 3 congressional elections. Meanwhile, rising gasoline and diesel prices have increasingly shaped the economic debate across the United States.
Trump Says His Economic Record Has Not Been Explained
Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that his administration has struggled to communicate its economic record effectively to voters. However, he maintained that the US economy remains strong despite growing concerns over household costs.
“I’ve done a very bad job of explaining how good the country is doing,” Trump said at a Hispanic Heritage Month event at the White House.
He also insisted that “the country’s doing better than it has ever done.”
Trump’s comments come as Republicans prepare for a major campaign effort before the November elections. Control of Congress will be at stake during the vote.
Moreover, the president acknowledged the historical difficulties facing the party holding the White House during midterm elections.
“We have to turn this around,” he told supporters.
Iran War Pushes Fuel Prices Higher
The economic message faces additional pressure as the war with Iran disrupts energy supplies. Consequently, gasoline and diesel prices have climbed sharply across the United States.
Diesel prices recently reached a record $6.53 per gallon, according to AAA data cited in the report. At the same time, several states have introduced measures to contain fuel costs.
The disruptions have been linked to the Iran war, attacks on Russian refineries and declining global inventories. As fuel markets tightened, oil prices also increased on Wednesday.
Brent crude settled at $103.50 a barrel, gaining 91 cents during the day. The benchmark also rose about 14% during September.
Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $90.42 a barrel.
Consumer Confidence Falls to a 12-Year Low
Higher energy costs have added to broader concerns about household finances. Consumer confidence in September fell to its lowest level in nearly 12 and a half years.
The decline reflects growing economic anxiety as Americans face higher fuel costs and other financial pressures. Therefore, the administration faces increasing pressure to address the domestic impact of the conflict.
Earlier, administration officials had considered measures to limit the effect of rising gasoline prices. These measures included a possible suspension of fuel taxes as fuel costs increased.
Trump’s Approval Rating Falls to 32%
Trump’s economic message also faces pressure from public opinion. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in September found his overall approval rating at 32%.
That figure represented the lowest approval rating of either of his presidential terms. Furthermore, only 17% of respondents approved of his handling of the cost of living.
The poll also showed that dissatisfaction with inflation had spread among Republican voters. Meanwhile, the rising cost of living has become a major concern ahead of the congressional elections.
US Economy Still Shows Areas of Strength
Despite the pressure on household budgets, several indicators show continued strength in the broader US economy.
The economy grew at a revised annualised rate of 2.2% during the second quarter. Consumer spending also increased by 3.8%, according to government data.
Business investment linked to artificial intelligence infrastructure has also supported economic growth. Therefore, Trump has continued to argue that the underlying economy remains strong.
However, he says his administration has not communicated those achievements effectively enough.
“We’re not getting the word out,” Trump said at the White House event.
“I’m going out because nobody’s selling it. We’re doing an extremely poor job of promotion, and an extremely great job of running the country. But we’ll get the word out. It should not be hard.”
Trump Steps Up Campaign Schedule
Trump’s comments come as he prepares for an intensive campaign schedule across several states.
He is due to travel to Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday. He will then visit Alabama on Friday before campaigning in Ohio on Saturday.
The campaign push comes as Republicans allocate resources to congressional races that were previously considered relatively safe.
At the same time, the Iran war has become increasingly prominent in several contests. Republican candidates in some states have started distancing themselves from Trump’s Iran policy as voters face higher food and fuel costs.
Questions about the conflict’s duration have also added to the political pressure surrounding the elections.
Washington and Tehran Continue Diplomatic Efforts
The latest developments come as Washington and Tehran remain involved in diplomatic efforts.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has received US feedback through Qatari mediators on a seven-day trust-building proposal. The proposal includes steps toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
However, differences remain over the sequence and conditions for implementing the plan.
Meanwhile, Trump is attempting to refocus attention on the strength of the US economy. His latest remarks show that communicating those economic gains remains a central challenge as fuel prices rise and Americans face greater cost-of-living pressure.
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