Media Emphasizes Trump’s Off-Message Tangents During Economic Policy Speech

Donald Trump delivered a speech at a North Carolina rally in which he laid out his economic policy priorities and criticized his presidential election opponent, Kamala Harris. Outlets left, right, and center said Trump struggled to keep a focus on the economy that he had emphasized at the speech’s outset.

The Details: Trump reiterated his existing positions, including cutting taxes, expanding oil drilling, reducing inflation, and keeping Obamacare in place. But he simultaneously expressed doubt that “the economy is the most important topic” of the presidential race, frequently turning to topics like immigration and crime. Trump also mocked Harris’ intelligence and said she has “the laugh of a crazy person.”

For Context: Since Harris replaced President Joe Biden in the presidential race, Trump’s standing has slipped from a comfortable lead to a neck-and-neck competition, prompting his allies to urge a messaging reset. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate fell to 2.9% last month, its lowest point since March 2021, potentially dulling one of Trump’s strongest points against the Biden-Harris administration.

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum — including Washington Times (Lean Right bias), Independent (Lean Left), New York Times (Lean Left), The Hill (Center), and BBC (Center) — covered the speech with an unusual level of agreement, considering it ineffective as Trump failed to stick to economic talk. There was some favorable coverage from the right; Epoch Times (Lean Right) featured Trump’s promise that “energy costs would be reduced by at least 50 percent within 12 to 18 months of his taking office.”