Trump called his own housing bill a ‘yawn.’ Now he’s heading for a west coast tour with a 32% approval rating on the economy

Summary

President Donald Trump is making a rare visit to California and Nevada this week to try to draw contrasts with Democrats on the economy, border security and crime , seeking to shore up support for Republicans in November elections that will determine whether his party keeps control of Congress. The Republican president has struggled to connect with voters on the economy as elevated inflation and feelings of uncertainty have overshadowed the stock market gains he often talks about along with a low national unemployment rate . Trump will visit the Los Angeles area on Tuesday to speak at a fundraising dinner for the Republican National Committee at a golf club his family owns in the suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes. On Wednesday, Trump will discuss the economy during an event at Red Rock casino in Las Vegas. Only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy in an AP-NORC poll conducted in late July. In the same poll, most Americans, 69%, characterized the state of the economy as “poor,” and many said the cost of everyday essentials like groceries and gas was a “major” source of stress in their lives. Trump’s overall approval rating is at 33%, slightly below where he stood at this point in his first term. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the president plans to “draw a sharp contrast between his commonsense agenda and the radical policies of Democrats like Gavin Newsom,” touting his own efforts to cut taxes, reduce fraud in government programs, and crack down on immigration and crime. This came after protests following a series of immigration raids by federal authorities . The Democrat wrote on social media on Monday that California is raising its minimum wage next year to $17.40 an hour, more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25. “Donald Trump and the GOP are still defending a $7.25 minimum wage while workers scrape by.