WASHINGTON, Feb 24 - President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, presenting an upbeat economic narrative as the White House seeks to consolidate Republican backing ahead of November's midterm elections.
Mr. Trump anchored much of his speech on financial themes, arguing that key measures are moving in a favorable direction. He said inflation, mortgage rates and gas prices are falling, while pointing to gains in the stock market, rising oil production, increasing foreign direct investment, and growth in construction and factory jobs.
Despite the positive framing, the president stopped short of fully acknowledging the ongoing strain many Americans feel from higher consumer prices. The broader data cited in recent reporting indicate that inflation stalled and even inched upward last year, and that the economy lost factory jobs over the same period.
Public sentiment presents a further complication for the administration's message. Polling shows a majority of respondents disapprove of Mr. Trump's handling of the economy, with 56% expressing disapproval and 36% approving. That disconnect between the White House narrative and voter perceptions is a concern for Republican strategists who view the president as the primary communicator of economic performance ahead of the midterm contests.
The address came as geopolitical tensions with Iran are on the rise and as voters continue to register frustration over the high cost of living. These broader pressures form part of the backdrop against which control of Congress will be contested: all 435 seats in the House are up for election in November, along with roughly one-third of the Senate. Democrats are aiming to win back majorities in one or both chambers.
Strategists have cautioned that the administration's optimistic economic message could be politically risky. If voters' lived experiences around inflation and labor market changes differ from the picture painted in the speech, the mismatch could influence voting behavior in ways that affect sectors sensitive to consumer demand and political uncertainty.
For now, the State of the Union emphasized growth and strength across several economic indicators, while the observable disconnect between those claims and some underlying data and voter attitudes underscores the political stakes leading into the midterm elections.