'Always going to land flat.' Trump test-drives new affordability message in North Carolina

Political Messaging & Affordability - Trump's affordability message is perceived as a rehash and may not resonate due to his image [1] - Trump's past success was partly due to capitalizing on post-COVID inflation, but his current approach may not be effective [1] - Trump is seen as out of touch with affordability issues, hindering his ability to connect with voters [1] - Trump's messaging savviness seems to have diminished, with repetitive arguments and a lack of new narratives [1] - Voters understand whether prices are actually decreasing, and claims of lower prices without evidence are unhelpful [1] Policy & Economic Impact - Trump's industrial policy and tariffs are unlikely to have an immediate impact on lowering prices [1] - The potential failure to extend ACA subsidies could negate any positive impact from lowering drug prices [4] - The Trump family's business ventures in sectors that the president can regulate raise concerns about conflicts of interest [5][6] Mathematical Inaccuracies & Misleading Claims - Trump's claim of drug prices decreasing by 400-600% is mathematically implausible [1] - The administration's explanation of percentage decreases is misleading and can be considered deceptive [2][3] Inequality & Public Perception - The perception of inequality, where the wealthy are treated differently, fueled Trump's past success but now seems lost [7]