US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that Republicans could face defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, even as he continues to boast about what he calls the “greatest economy in history.”
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, published on Saturday and conducted in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said that while he believes the US economy is booming, translating economic indicators into voter support remains uncertain.
The Republican leader, who returned to the White House in January, has repeatedly credited himself for economic growth while blaming inflation on his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.
“I’ve created the greatest economy in history. But it may take people a while to figure all these things out,” Trump told the Journal.
Trump pointed to large-scale investments flowing into the US, including automobile manufacturing plants, artificial intelligence projects and other infrastructure developments.
“All this money that’s pouring into our country is building things right now — car plants, AI, lots of stuff. I cannot tell you how that’s going to equate to the voter. All I can do is do my job,” he said.
Midterm Concerns Despite Economic Confidence
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Trump acknowledged that history is not on the Republicans’ side.
“Even those that had, you know, a successful presidency” have faced setbacks in midterms, he said.
“We should win. But, you know, statistically, it’s very tough to win. Yeah, it doesn’t make sense.”
Trump also stressed that prices are currently “in good shape,” reiterating his campaign promise to curb inflation — a pledge he insists he has fulfilled.
Polls Show Weak Public Approval on Economy
Despite his claims, public opinion surveys paint a different picture.
A University of Chicago poll conducted for the Associated Press found that only 31 percent of US adults approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, down from 40 percent in March.
Trump has publicly expressed frustration over the lack of recognition for what he sees as his economic achievements.
“When will I get credit for having created, with no inflation, perhaps the greatest economy in the history of our country?” Trump wrote in a social media post on Thursday.
“When will polls reflect the greatness of America at this point in time, and how bad it was just one year ago?”
Inflation Trends Remain Mixed
Inflation surged during Joe Biden’s presidency, eased briefly after Trump’s return to office in January, but began accelerating again in April.
The most recent official data, released in September, showed a 2.8 percent year-on-year increase in prices. Inflation figures for October were not released due to a government shutdown, while November data is expected next week.