President Donald Trump’s closest supporters agree with him on almost everything—except the way he’s addressing one of the issues driving the midterm elections: affordability.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference held outside Dallas, Texas, most attendees cheered on Trump’s agenda, from his border security policies to his controversial military operation in Iran.
Guests could spend their disposable income on T-shirts featuring the president’s “homecoming” to the White House, rubber ducks with Trump’s signature hairstyle, and sequined “Make America Sparkle Again” jackets that averaged $500 a pop.
But while the CPAC marketplace was crowded with attendees looking to score pricey souvenirs, several attendees opened up about their financial challenges back home. And their growing worries the president and his team aren’t doing enough to address them.
Elaine Juezan of San Antonio, who was selling pro-Trump merchandise, including a display of flags celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday and depictions of the president as Rambo, said Trump needs to do more to bring down costs.
Juezan, who works as a full-time mortgage lender, said many of her clients struggle with buying a home.
“I actually think [the White House] should do better,” Juezan said. “I’ve seen the market go up and down, and I want to help people get homes, but it’s so difficult when the rates are not going down.”
Polling indicates cost-of-living issues remain a concern for many Americans, who have said affordability has worsened in the last year, as costs for groceries, prescription drugs, and health insurance remain high, and fuel prices continue to rise.
“Things are very tough right now, so I would love to see some more progress,” said Max Ballat, who was attending the conference from San Francisco.
Affordability has been one of the Trump administration’s biggest vulnerabilities heading into the fall midterms, but there was little discussion by speakers at the conservative rally to acknowledge the issue.
Instead, most speakers focused on Trump’s popular red meat policies, such as deportations and banning men from competing in women’s sports.
Trump officials focused on what they say are affordability wins, such as Trump RX, a website designed to offer consumers cheap prescription drug options, and Trump savings accounts for children.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner touted Trump’s leadership when it comes to home ownership and rent price drops. Turner, however, didn’t address the president’s legislative asks on affordable housing, which is facing hurdles in the House due to concerns about cryptocurrency.
“Our work is bearing much fruit,” Turner said. “We want to help future generations have the same opportunities to achieve the American Dream that their parents and grandparents had. The stakes are very high.”
Trump has referred to affordability as “a hoax” and a “con job” used by Democrats as a political talking point, while also recently saying he already won the issue.
“What word have you not heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I’ve won. I’ve won affordability,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Georgia last month. Georgia will have a critical Senate race for the GOP where incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) is running on housing and health care affordability.
A YouGov-Market Watch poll conducted in late February found 47% of respondents found the cost of living has worsened somewhat or a little since Trump took office. The same poll suggested two-thirds of those surveyed didn’t think Washington was taking the issue seriously.
GOP concerns
Some Republicans have also sidestepped direct White House criticism, but acknowledged it’s a concern heading into November.
CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp, a leading Trump ally, said he lives “month to month” on economic news and said the GOP has to do a better job of convincing voters they’re on the right track.
“We still have to win the argument that things are going to get better, and that weighs heavy on the administration’s shoulders,” Schlapp told Bloomberg Government.
Former Rep. Louie Gohmert, who was attending CPAC, said while he believes the price increases will slowly go down, Texans are facing sticker shock, particularly at the pump.
“When you fill up your gas tank, it is a concern, especially for people who aren’t fixed-income or low-income,” Gohmert said. “It is really tough to see that big increase to where it was. And the other part of that is when the price of fuel goes up, everything goes up.”
Republican leaders in Washington have asked the public to “be patient” as the effects of last year’s big tax package start to trickle down. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has promised that Americans will likely see big tax returns this year thanks to Republicans, although that messsage has been overshadowed by war in Iran and concerns about immigration enforcement.
Inside the White House, Trump officials are aggressively trying to reassure the public that they’re working on the issue.
White House officials, including Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff James Blair, huddled last month at the Capitol Hill Club to discuss a campaign strategy addressing affordability, but so far there hasn’t been a new policy push.
Meanwhile, Democrats ran successful gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey by focusing on the economy. They’re planning a similar message for the midterms, in which they are increasingly favored to take control of the House and make gains in the Senate.
The DCCC just launched an ad buy last week targeting Republicans over gas prices. The digital ads are running in 44 districts Democrats see as potential flips.
“Now, when voters fill up at the pump, they’ll have yet another reminder that D.C. Republicans are squarely to blame for the price of gas, and everything else, being too damn high,” said Courtney Rice, DCCC spokesperson.
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