WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump gave an address to the nation from the White House Oval Office on Wednesday that defended his record and touted his administration’s actions on the economy and on immigration.
But the hastily delivered 20-minute speech, which sounded like much of his standard bluster on Truth Social, his social media platform, left many people on both sides of the aisle scratching their heads.
“Well at least [Trump] didn’t announce we are going to war in Venezuela, no clue what was the purpose of the speech,” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) wrote afterward in a post online.
“What the hell did we just watch? I’m flummoxed,” added conservative radio host Erick Erickson.
In his address, Trump said he inherited a “mess” from the previous Democratic administration, assuring viewers he was making progress “fixing” the country’s ills. He touted record-low crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border, the passage of new tax cuts, and vowed to take more actions addressing the rising cost of living.
“I am bringing those high prices down, and I am bringing them down very fast,” he said, citing the price of gasoline and eggs, among other groceries.
“Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history. There’s never been anything like it,” he added while reading off a TelePrompter. “We have achieved more than anyone can imagine.”
Trump has struggled to convince voters not to worry about the economy and the cost of living. In a new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll released on Wednesday, Trump received his worst economic ratings ever, with just 36% of Americans saying he’s doing a good job. Many Republican lawmakers have also urged the White House to focus on addressing affordability concerns.
In his address, Trump also announced that every U.S. service member will receive what he called a “warrior dividend” check in the amount of $1,776 paid for by tariff revenue, claiming that the “checks are already on the way.” It’s unclear how exactly this will happen without the involvement of Congress, which holds the power of the purse. Congress on Wednesday approved a bipartisan defense policy bill that included a 3.8% pay raise for troops.
Trump’s Oval Office address on the economy comes as health insurance premiums are set to spike for millions of Americans next month. Democrats have sought to extend expiring tax credits for people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans blocked their efforts on Capitol Hill this month. The House of Representatives is expected to leave town this week without holding a vote on the matter, but it will have to do so in January, after the subsidies have lapsed.
But Trump ignored the expiring Obamacare subsidies in his speech, insisting that Democrats are to blame for the coming premium hikes. He touted instead a website on an initiative lowering prescription drugs, which was originally passed by Democrats under President Joe Biden.
And he promised a never-before-seen economic boom next year, with the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon.
“After 11 months, our border is secure, inflation is stopped, wages are up, prices are down,” Trump said. “Our nation is strong. Our country is back, stronger than ever before. We’re poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.”
