Veteran political analyst Brit Hume delivered a blunt assessment Wednesday evening, saying that surging inflation and the soaring cost of living are severely undermining the Trump administration's standing just weeks before the midterm elections. Appearing on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier," Hume declared, "This business with prices is just killing the administration."
His comments came after a Fox News poll released earlier that day showed widespread voter discontent with the president's economic stewardship. The survey found that 63 percent of registered voters—including a notable 26 percent of Republicans—believe the administration has made the economy worse. Hume highlighted that figure as a warning sign for the White House, noting, "That is not a number that the president can be very content with."
The poll also revealed deep skepticism about the president's trade policies. Sixty-four percent of respondents said his tariff agenda has hurt the U.S. economy, and 55 percent said they trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle inflation. Trump's overall job approval stood at just 39 percent, with only 24 percent approving of his handling of affordability issues.
The economic pain is being exacerbated by the ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, which have driven global energy prices sharply higher, and by the administration's escalating trade dispute with Canada. On Monday, Trump tried to reassure the public that oil costs "will drop precipitously" once the conflict subsides. But for now, American drivers are feeling the squeeze: AAA reported that average gas prices hit a record $4.15 per gallon on Labor Day, while diesel climbed to an unprecedented $5.85 per gallon nationally.
The economy remains the dominant issue for voters heading into the midterms. In the same Fox News poll, 51 percent of respondents said they would support the Democratic candidate in their district's House race, compared to 44 percent who backed the Republican. That gap underscores the political peril for the GOP as it fights to retain control of Congress.
Hume, a longtime observer of presidential politics, said the rising costs are "plaguing" the Republican Party. He noted that Trump was elected on hopes that inflation could be tamed, and while some product prices have moderated, key essentials remain troublesome. "But when it comes to gasoline, a reflection of the Iran war, and groceries, which continue to go up, the problem is worse," he said.
The administration's economic struggles have also drawn criticism from within its own ranks. Several GOP senators have publicly slammed the White House's Iran war strategy and its impact on fuel costs, while others have blasted the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike as politically motivated. These internal fractures, combined with the public's negative assessment of the economy, paint a challenging picture for Republicans as they campaign for reelection.
With the midterms fast approaching, the White House is facing an uphill battle to convince voters that its policies are working. The new polling data, coupled with Hume's stark warning, suggests that inflation could be the decisive factor in determining which party controls Congress next year.
