Facing the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, Donald Trump made a final attempt to convince American voters of his economic stewardship before departing for a two-week Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
A Meandering Rally Before the Holiday Break
On Saturday 20 December 2025, the President stopped in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, for a campaign-style rally. His mission was clear: deflect blame for any economic pain felt nearly a year into his second term. However, for the first twenty minutes, he delivered a hoarse and often slurred soliloquy, revisiting earlier comments made to pharmaceutical executives at the White House.
He touted agreements with drug makers to lower costs on a website bearing his name, claiming "this achievement alone should win us for midterms." The President then shifted to healthcare, falsely stating the Affordable Care Act was "created to make insurance companies rich" and blaming Congressional Democrats for impending premium hikes. He proposed giving money directly to individuals to buy insurance, without detailing how the small sums would cover costs.
Economic Claims Collide with Harsh Polling Reality
Trump's pitch, which included boasts of tariffs on foreign cars, steel, and furniture to protect North Carolina's industry, appears to be falling on deaf ears. A National Public Radio / Marist College survey released this week delivered a brutal assessment:
- 57% of respondents disapprove of Trump's economic management, a record low across both his terms.
- His overall approval rating has sunk to 38%, the lowest since late 2021.
- 68% of independents disapprove of his economic handling.
- 70% say the cost of living in their area is unaffordable.
- A majority, 52%, believe the US is currently in a recession.
The economic data underpinning this pessimism is tangible. The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed the unemployment rate climbing to 4.6%, its highest level since 2021. Hiring momentum has waned, hampered by uncertainty from Trump's tariffs and lingering high interest rates.
Vacation Amidst Political and Legal Storms
Notably absent from his lengthy remarks was any mention of the Justice Department's partial release of files related to the Epstein case, an ongoing source of controversy. Instead, his speech veered into racist attacks on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and musings about a nickname for the resigning Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin lambasted the rally as a "desperate" performance, stating "North Carolinians are struggling, and they aren’t falling for Trump’s spin." As Trump heads to Mar-a-Lago for leisure and parties, the polling suggests he leaves behind a nation deeply skeptical of his economic leadership and increasingly concerned about affordability and a potential recession.
