US President Donald Trump has suggested that Republicans could face difficulties in the 2026 midterm elections, despite repeatedly claiming credit for what he described as the “greatest economy in history.”
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, conducted Friday in the Oval Office and published Saturday, Trump acknowledged that strong economic performance does not always translate into electoral success. “I’ve created the greatest economy in history,” Trump said. “But it may take people a while to figure all these things out.”
He pointed to rising investment in sectors such as automobile manufacturing and artificial intelligence, saying large sums of money were flowing into the United States. However, he admitted uncertainty over how voters would respond.
“I cannot tell you how that’s going to equate to the voter. All I can do is do my job,” he added.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, Trump insisted that prices remain under control, while acknowledging the historical challenge faced by incumbent parties. “Even those who had a successful presidency have suffered setbacks,” he told the Journal. “We should win, but statistically it’s very tough.”
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Trump has repeatedly blamed inflation on former President Joe Biden, while insisting that his return to office in January has helped stabilise the economy.
Despite his claims, public confidence in Trump’s economic leadership remains weak. A recent University of Chicago–Associated Press poll found that only 31 per cent of US adults approve of his handling of the economy, down from 40 per cent in March. Trump has publicly questioned why voters and polls have not reflected what he sees as economic improvement.
“When will I get credit for having created, with no inflation, perhaps the greatest economy in the history of our country?” he wrote in a social media post on Thursday. Inflation surged during Biden’s presidency and initially eased after Trump returned to office. However, price pressures have increased again since April.
The most recent official data, released in September, showed a 2.8 per cent year-on-year inflation rate. The government did not publish October figures due to a shutdown, while November data is expected next week.
Trump’s remarks underscore the political risks facing Republicans as they head into the 2026 midterms, even as the administration continues to highlight economic growth and investment. Whether voters ultimately reward those gains at the ballot box remains uncertain.
