Trump gave a speech in a suburb of Des Moines where he talked up the tax cuts he signed into law last year and took credit for the soaring performance of the stock market, saying he “made a lot of people rich,” including some "that I don’t even like."
“If we lose the midterms, you’ll lose so many of the things that we’re talking about," Trump told Iowans, who are expected to reflect their feelings on his presidency when they vote in two highly competitive congressional races this year.
The trip for the Republican president was part of a White House push to focus more on affordability ahead of elections in November that will determine control of Congress.
But the president once again suggested that concerns about prices were exaggerated by his political opponents, saying, “They come up with this word ‘affordability.’”
“First time you heard about it was like a few months ago,” he said.
He went on and added: “You’re not hearing it so much anymore. You know why? Because the prices are coming down so much.”
On the ground in Iowa, Trump first made a stop at a local restaurant, where he met some locals and sat for an interview with Fox News Channel — in which he said he was attempting to “de-escalate a little bit” in Minnesota.
The latest effort comes as the Trump administration is grappling with the weekend shooting death of Alex Pretti, an anti-ICE protester who was killed when he confronted immigration enforcement officers.
As Trump left the White House on Tuesday to head to Iowa, he was repeatedly questioned by reporters about Pretti's killing. Trump disputed language used by his own deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who on social media described Pretti as an “assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” Vice President JD Vance shared the post.
Trump, when asked Tuesday if he believed Pretti was an assassin, said, “No.”
When asked if he thought Pretti's killing was justified, Trump called it “a very sad situation” and said a “big investigation” was underway.
"I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” he said.
He also said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was quick to cast Pretti as a violent instigator, would not be resigning.
