FEASTERVILLE, Pa. — The photo shows Donald Trump smiling behind a McDonald’s counter, handing out fries during the closing days of the 2024 campaign. For supporters like David Teeling, a retired Pennsylvanian who keeps the newspaper clipping in his wallet, the moment symbolized a candidate trying to connect with everyday Americans.
A year later, that image has taken on a different meaning.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, many voters say the cost of everyday life — from groceries to fast food — feels increasingly out of reach, complicating Trump’s effort to convince Americans that his economic agenda is working.
Voters Feel the Pinch
Recent polling suggests widespread financial anxiety. An NBC News Decision Desk survey found that more than half of U.S. adults have changed grocery-buying habits to stay within budget, while a similar share say they’ve cut back on entertainment and nonessential spending.
Price data offers a mixed picture. Egg prices have fallen sharply since Trump took office, but other staples remain more expensive. Beef prices are up nearly 13%, bread has risen 4%, and orange juice prices have surged almost 30%, according to Nielsen IQ data tracked by NBC News.
Public sentiment reflects that strain. An AP-NORC poll found just 31% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy — his lowest economic approval rating across both terms.
White House Strategy: Put Trump Back on the Trail
Republican strategists argue the solution is familiar: more Trump, not less. Pollster John McLaughlin said the president must campaign aggressively ahead of the midterms to energize his base, even though Trump himself won’t be on the ballot.
“The White House doesn’t have a choice,” McLaughlin said. “If Trump voters aren’t motivated, Republicans will struggle in the midterms.”
Chief of staff Susie Wiles has echoed that view, saying Trump should campaign as though the election were happening again, directly appealing to voters in battleground states.
A Difficult Balancing Act
Political analysts say Trump faces a delicate challenge. He must acknowledge that families are under pressure while insisting that his policies are delivering results — a message that requires empathy as well as confidence.
So far, Trump has leaned heavily on comparisons with the Biden administration, blaming lingering inflation on his predecessor. He has highlighted falling gas prices, a strong stock market, and large-scale foreign investment as signs of progress. On social media, Trump has dismissed concerns about affordability as exaggerated or politically motivated.
But even some Republicans warn that voters are focused less on blame and more on their grocery bills.
“People know what things cost,” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said recently. “You can’t talk around that.”
Tariffs, Inflation and Internal Warnings
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell added to the debate last week, saying Trump’s tariffs are contributing to higher inflation than would otherwise be expected. After falling earlier in the year, inflation rose to 3% in September, according to the most recent data available.
Veteran Republican strategist Michael DuHaime cautioned that repeatedly pointing fingers at past administrations has diminishing returns. “Voters will only tolerate that for so long,” he said.
Democratic operatives say they learned a similar lesson. Sam Cornale, a former Democratic National Committee executive, said failing to lead with empathy hurt President Joe Biden politically during periods of high inflation.
On the Ground at McDonald’s
Back at the Feasterville McDonald’s, there’s little physical trace of Trump’s visit. Staff members have turned over, and online reviews were temporarily disabled after the campaign stop drew intense attention.
Yet the restaurant itself reflects the broader economy. McDonald’s executives have acknowledged what they describe as a “two-tier economy,” with lower-income customers pulling back. That shift contributed to the company’s decision to revive discounted value meals.
Among the regulars, opinions are split. Some remain confident Trump will eventually bring prices down, even if it takes time. Others say they’ve already had to cut back — especially on meat — and doubt relief is coming soon.
“He didn’t get elected for layoffs or higher prices,” one retired truck driver said quietly over coffee.
Midterms Loom Large
Trump recently previewed his midterm message at a rally in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, promoting tariffs as drivers of new factory construction. But even allies say the focus must stay squarely on household finances.
“The economy and the cost of living are what matter,” said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. “That’s what people feel every day.”
As Trump once used McDonald’s fries to signal solidarity with working Americans, the question now is whether he can convince voters that relief is truly on the way — or whether rising prices will overshadow his pitch when Americans head to the polls.
