Trump's economic team "changes tone": Let's wait until next year!

The Trump administration's economic team is adjusting its strategy for conveying messages externally. In the face of weak employment data and ongoing inflationary pressures, advisors are suggesting that the president communicate a new message to voters: please wait until next year.

On October 5th, reports indicated that Trump's advisors, in private conversations, were not fixated on unstable economic data but instead painted an optimistic outlook, insisting that data will begin to improve in the first quarter of 2026. Informed sources, including senior government officials, revealed that advisors assured Trump that economic indicators would show improvement by the end of 2025.

Trump himself has also changed his tone. Although the economy played a crucial role in his successful re-election campaign, he now seems more inclined to focus on immigration, crime, and "settling accounts" with his perceived enemies. Trump recently stated, "Our big year (when the economy truly takes off and policy effects become evident) is actually not next year, but the year after." This represents a significant shift in messaging since his first week in office, when the economy was at the core of his communications.

This strategic adjustment reflects the dual political and economic pressures facing the government. Trump and the Republican Party are facing a tough test in the 2026 midterm elections, with the Democrats having a chance to gain a majority in both the House and Senate.

Advisors' "Soothing" Strategy

Reports indicate that in response to the report of only 22,000 new jobs added in August, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin told Trump:

He believes that once the "Big Beautiful Plan" is fully implemented next year, employment data will begin to rise.

In a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office, other advisors told Trump that how he publicly addresses the weak employment data is up to him; he can easily sidestep this information by pointing to the future.

A senior government official stated that advisors assured him that as 2025 draws to a close, economic indicators will show improvement.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated in a statement that the government "is focused on driving supply-side reforms, ensuring trillions in manufacturing investments, and implementing historic trade agreements that will revitalize America's industrial dominance."

Economic Reality and Political Pressure

Despite Trump continuing to boast about a strong economy, some key economic data points remain lagging. Monthly job growth has slowed, inflation continues to plague consumers, and housing is still viewed as unaffordable nationwide.

Public perception of Trump's economic leadership has become more negative in recent months.

According to a September poll by the AP-NORC, only 37% of adults approve of Trump's handling of the economy, while 62% disapprove.

A recent New York Times poll showed that 45% of voters believe Trump has made the economy worse since taking office, while 32% say he has made it better.

At a dinner in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Trump's pollster Tony Fabrizio and longtime political advisor Chris LaCivita told attendees: Their internal investigation shows that the term "Big Beautiful Plan" has no appeal to voters. They suggest that Republicans should start referring to the law as "tax cuts for working families."

Challenges in Policy Implementation

Independent economists indicate that many of Trump's policies, particularly those related to immigration and tariffs, may weigh down growth and increase costs at least in the short term.

Many economists expect improvements next year as uncertainties surrounding tariffs fade and the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates.

For government officials, changing course is not an option. Trump was frustrated with aides who tried to rein in his instincts during his first term.

In contrast, Stephen Miran, a Trump economic advisor who recently joined the Federal Reserve Board, sometimes seems indifferent to negative economic indicators.

Russell Riley, co-chair of the University of Virginia's presidential oral history project, warns:

"The risk is that at some point, refusing to consider a full range of effective economic indicators in policy-making will lead the government to make huge mistakes."

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