(NewsNation) — In a pitch to lift Americans’ spirits ahead of next year’s midterm elections, Vice President JD Vance touted the administration’s economic successes and a commitment to lower prices in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.
Vance toured a Uline distribution facility near Allentown before delivering his remarks. He traveled with Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and second lady Usha Vance.
Tuesday’s visit underscores a broader White House effort to sharpen its economic message as Republicans look to retain power in the midterm elections.
Voters have grown increasingly frustrated that costs are undercutting the party’s political standing despite upbeat rhetoric from the administration. A recent AP-NORC poll shows 31% of voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy — the lowest poll rating in either of Trump’s terms.
“Even though we’ve made incredible progress, we understand that there’s a lot more work to do, and the thing that I’d ask from the American people is a little bit of patience,” Vance said.
Vance also said he was not worried about the political consequences of Americans’ affordability and economic concerns ahead of the midterms, stating that voters “know Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Vance’s trip comes a week after President Donald Trump delivered remarks during a similar visit in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, though they strayed from a focused economic pitch. Trump did acknowledge that prices were high, and insisted the economy was booming and people were taking home more pay.
U.S. economic growth remains steady, but inflation continues to pinch households.
The nation gained 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October as federal workers departed after cutbacks by the Trump administration, the government announced Tuesday. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since 2021.