“Affordability” is the word going into the 2026 midterm elections—and a GOP win is incumbent on Trump’s ability to communicate the truth on the economy.
Victor Davis Hanson says that, despite recent economic wins such as falling inflation rates and tax cuts, the public perception of economic pain persists because Democrats have successfully shifted blame onto President Donald Trump from the real culprit—former President Joe Biden. How did this happen? And can the Trump administration fix this perception in less than a year? Hanson breaks it down on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.”
(0:00) Introduction(0:21) Key Issues in the 2026 Midterms(1:45) Trump’s Economic Wins(3:32) Democrat Misconceptions(4:55) Foreign Policy Focus(6:42) Conclusion
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31 Comments
Victor Davis Dogface blibbering on as usual. I'm struggling as a senior. Prices are way up and old Victorino knows that. Biden had to deal with Post Covid. Trump's economy is good for the rich bad for everyone else. Tax the rich and fire old Vic.
Victor thankyou for explaining it such simple terms that a child could understand what's really going on. What you say is very true. That's what I like about you, you always tell it like it is.👍😎
Trump is Gangster.. learn how it's done….next
Critical Thinking can be taught and must be taught above all other academics, it is the bedrock of education and innovation in fact of Civilization itself.
I would argue that affordability is only really understood by someone living on a small, restricted amount of money. For someone of greater means affordability is an abstract and theoretical “discussion”. For someone pinched that are, say, having to choose between eating and their critical medication, it is an immediate reality and will be an experience very shortly. Even if at one time in your life, before you increased your income, you had to deal with affordabilty issues and choices but you haven’t had to do so for years, you are that much removed from the reality of it. And if you are Donald Trump, who has NEVER had to confront it, as well was being devoid of empathy, it is so far off his radar as to exclude him even from consideration. To him it is a talking point to get votes and not something he is remotely familiar with.
Well said!
God bless VDH
You are right, you can't tax, spend and regulate and lie your way to prosperity. Nor print money and have the government spend its way to prosperity. But VDH is only tell half the story and he knows it. Look at what the national debt did under Trump's first term and so far this term. It's more of the same. Also, you can't ignore the chaos and friction that Trump's tariffs added to the economy. Government can either get out of the way and reduce friction on the economy, or I can pump the brakes. Tariffs certainly pump the brakes.
.. we need a VDHN channel on cable. Thank you, Professor 🫡🇺🇸
When will they learn….you must focus on the economy (what citizens care about) the first 2 years so you can win midterms. Then you can go international years 3-4. Every hour Trump spends international, could have been spent domestically, where midterms would have been a cakewalk. 😊
Dubious statement at best. I have not seen anything coherent from this administration about the economy. Regardless, I doubt stealing oil tankers from Venezuela is going to change the US economy.
The government is still too big. As long as it controls housing, Healthcare, money. It will stay expensive.
The central bankers and the war hawks want to destroy President Trump. The UK and EU are hellbent on destroying our progress! They are a world threat!
MAGA wants more DOMESTIC ATTENTION. People still can't get good jobs, and if they do, they still can't afford housing, can't even DREAM of buying a home on a average salary AND THEIR JOBS ARE BEING REPLACED BY AI AND A H1B INDIAN SLAVE LABOR CASTE SYSTEM…WHY? In such a HUGE nation we have so much empty land and resources it's crazy we don't give away acres for people willing to develop the land and build new things. Another important example: We DO NOT have our 2nd A rights GUARANTEED IN ALL STATES. We have the 2nd Amendment of our Constitution FOR A REASON! It is 2nd in importance to Free expression because it is required to defend the 1st, is systematically ignored and keeping/bearing arms is illegal in many Left-wing states. If they can do that, they can take away any of your rights. The Democrats just ignore the Supreme court and the court allows them to get away with it. They pick and choose which laws they want to follow such as immigration laws and racial discrimination laws. It is unacceptable. Why don't we fix that FIRST? If we don't have rule of law we have nothing.
The problem is, job growth has slowed down, and salary hasn’t caught back up, while interest rates are still high. That’s the pain point people are feeling, and can be easily used by democrats to manipulate voter sentiment. These days voters don’t have the patience for the economy to rise again. They want everything right away
On this issue Democrats are like someone who stops up your toilet and then asks why your house stinks
❤❤❤
We’re at the mercy of the lying media and the naive public.
Victor, Trump said during his campaigning, prices would come down immediately (fast), which most people with half a brain know cannot happen that fast if at all; inflation is cumulative. Now the democrats are using that against him, and that was part of the Biden Administration throwing billions of dollars away in their last days. Prices are high, and Trump didn't do it, but I don't see them retreating anytime soon. Trump set the expectation too high for the useful low-information voters, but it's not helping him now. He needs to publicly retract the FAST statements now, and hopefully, some will forgive him.
Inflation is quick to go up and slow to go down.
Spot on!😊
Excellent
After ten years of constant graft exposed and protection and election rigging by judicial abuse you'd be an utter fool to vote Democrat.
“Nuke-u-lar” is NOT a word.
Yes great observations. Thanks for posting
No h1b
This guy is talking like Trump is some what normal thinking HUMAN BEING, It is mind-buggling
Economy was getting better and better Trump took office with tariff and DOJ and this ICE rates brought down the Economy, Economy is not going to get better becaouse the tariff will have a long term effects
Just the fact that Davis has to go on here and try to defend Trump's economy tells you something.
Today, Christmas Day, a gallon of gas by my home is $2.61 a gallon..
Inflation became affordability the same way gun control became gun safety. Liberals created a new word to avoid the consequences of their own actions.