President Donald Trump is heading to Pennsylvania for a rally on affordability on Tuesday evening after dismissing growing concerns about the U.S. economy in a new interview.
Trump said he’d grade his economy as “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” in a wide-ranging interview with Politico. The president also insisted he had “inherited a total mess” from his predecessor Joe Biden and baulked at the idea that Americans are having to tighten their household budgets going into 2026.
This comes after a Politico survey revealed last week that 46 percent of Americans believe the cost of living is the worst they’ve seen. That view is held by more than a third of Trump voters, according to the poll.
In the same interview, the president called Europe a collection of “decaying” nations led by “weak” leaders, refused to rule out sending ground troops into Venezuela as part of his war against drug traffickers and urged the Supreme Court’s elderly conservative justices to stay in their posts.
Meanwhile, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a fresh attack on Trump during a Tuesday morning interview on CNN.
When asked about the president’s recent Truth Social post labeling her a “very dumb person,” Greene said Trump was “so hateful” and told the network she feels “very sorry” for him.
Newsom uses infamous Trump lawnmower pic to make fun of president over his comments about machinery
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MTG responds to Trump’s criticisms
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has responded to President Donald Trump’s recent Truth Social post, in which he called her a “traitor” and a “very dumb person.”
“I feel very sorry for President Trump. I genuinely do,” Greene told CNN on Tuesday morning.
“It has to be a hard place for someone that is constantly so hateful, and puts so much vitriol, name-calling and really tells lies about people to try to get his way or win some kind of fight,” she added.
Trump shared his Truth Social post in response to Greene’s recent “60 Minutes” interview, her first since she announced her resignation from Congress.
During that interview, Greene told CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl that Republicans had mocked Trump behind his back.
“I watched many of my colleagues go from making fun of him, making fun of how he talks, making fun of me constantly for supporting him, to when he won the primary in 2024, they all started — excuse my language, Lesley — kissing his a**, and decided to put on a MAGA hat for the first time,” Greene said of Trump.
Trump’s approval rating rises: poll
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has ticked up to 41 percent, rising from 38 percent last month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released today.
The poll suggests Republicans are starting to warm up to Trump’s affordability measures, according to Reuters.
However, not everyone is convinced, according to another recent survey.
Trump calls Sept. 2 boat strike footage ‘not pretty’
This comes after Trump raged at an ABC News reporter on Monday, calling her “the most obnoxious,” after she asked whether his administration would commit to releasing the double-tap boat strike video.
When asked whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should testify before Congress, Trump told Politico, “I don’t care. I would say do it if you want, Pete.”
Trump added that Hegseth is doing “a great job.”
Trump declines to say whether he’ll revoke citizenship if he wins birthright citizenship case
“I… honestly, I haven’t thought of that,” Trump told Politico, adding that it would be “devastating” if his administration loses the case.
This comes after Trump signed an executive order earlier this year seeking to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The order has since been challenged in court.
The Supreme Court announced last week that it will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower court’s decision striking down his order. A ruling is expected in early summer.
Trump set to host Pennsylvania rally today
President Donald Trump is expected to hold a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, later today.
There, he’s expected to discuss the economy and affordability, as concerns mount over the cost of living under his administration.
In an interview with Politico published today, Trump dismissed concerns about affordability and said he’d give his economy an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
Trump dismisses Pope Leo’s criticism
In an interview with Politico, President Donald Trump responded to Pope Leo XIV’s criticisms of his administration.
Trump dismissed the criticism, telling Politico he wasn’t aware of his remarks.
“I haven’t seen that. I mean…I mean, he…maybe he has. I mean, he also didn’t like the wall. You know, they didn’t like the wall,” Trump said. “The wall turned out to be great.”
Laura Loomer contradicts Trump administration on deadly ‘narco boat’ strikes
The far-right activist has challenged the administration’s justification for the more than a dozen strikes against Venezuelan boats allegedly carrying drugs, saying the amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S. from such sources is negligible, a significant break with the party line from Trump’s self-appointed “loyalty enforcer.”
Kelly Rissman reports.
Source: independent.co.uk