President Donald Trump has sought to portray the U.S. economy as fundamentally strong amid ongoing voter concerns about high prices and slow wage growth, attributing much of the public’s unease to what he describes as a “public relations” problem. As the nation approaches the midterm elections with about a month remaining, Trump has intensified his efforts to convince Americans that economic conditions are better than commonly perceived.

During recent campaign events in Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, Trump emphasized growth in financial markets, increased construction activity, and overall economic momentum. His administration highlighted September’s surge in construction hiring as evidence of the economy’s resilience. However, the same month’s jobs report also revealed a slowing in overall hiring and wages that failed to keep pace with inflation, reflecting challenges experienced by many Americans coping with rising costs in fuel, credit, and housing.

Trump acknowledged his frustration over the disconnect between economic data and public sentiment, stating, “The only thing we’re doing badly at is public relations.” He rejected notions that his administration was responsible for rising prices, particularly on gasoline, reminding audiences that energy costs are largely beyond his control.

White House economic advisers have echoed a cautiously optimistic outlook. Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, expressed confidence in the administration’s policies, predicting gross domestic product growth near 4 percent, albeit tempered by external factors such as geopolitical tensions with Iran and increasing government borrowing costs. The official measurement of second-quarter GDP was revised upward, reflecting greater investment, including in artificial intelligence.

Economists offered mixed assessments of recent data. Michael Puopolo of Wells Fargo noted that a broader view of economic indicators remains relatively healthy, citing increased labor force participation and construction hiring as positives. Yet, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2 percent in September, with particularly high unemployment among Black workers at 7 percent. Cory Stahle, a senior economist at Indeed, described the labor market as “fragile,” highlighting low levels of both hiring and firing that suggest limited worker mobility. He also pointed to inflation as a persistent issue, noting that wages continue to lag behind rising consumer prices, adding to everyday financial pressures for many households.

Gasoline prices averaged about $4.40 per gallon nationally by early October, a modest decline but still substantially higher than a year prior. Meanwhile, 30-year mortgage rates reached nearly 7.3 percent—the highest in almost three years—adding to affordability concerns for homebuyers.

Conservative economist Stephen Moore, a Trump advisor, acknowledged that gasoline prices weigh heavily on public perception of the economy but argued that most other indicators remain solid when energy costs are excluded. Trump’s campaign has sought to emphasize policy achievements, unveiling investments intended to stimulate job growth in key battleground states, including plans for a new steel mill in Iowa. The administration also announced a multibillion-dollar South Korean investment in U.S. energy projects, including a gas facility in Alaska, though some aspects of the announcement were disputed by South Korean officials.

Despite economic headwinds and public skepticism, the president has maintained that inflation has been defeated and expressed confidence that conflicts in the Middle East will soon be resolved. With the midterms approaching, the administration plans a series of initiatives aimed at reinforcing its economic messaging to voters, asserting that the primary obstacle to broader support is a failure to effectively communicate the nation’s economic progress.