Stephen Moore, who served as a senior economic adviser to former President Trump, said Thursday that while the U.S. economy is "the strongest in the world," Republicans would be wise to acknowledge the economic frustrations many Americans are feeling. Speaking on NewsNation's On Balance with Leland Vittert, Moore suggested the party could borrow a line from a past Democratic president.
"I think maybe to borrow a line from Bill Clinton, 'I feel your pain' would be an appropriate thing to say," Moore said. He added that Republicans should also highlight the economy's strengths, describing it as a "B plus economy" rather than the "A plus plus" that Trump often claims.
The remarks come as economic anxiety dominates the final stretch of the midterm campaign, with voters heading to the polls in less than two weeks. Republicans face the real possibility of losing control of both the House and Senate, largely due to discontent over rising prices and stagnant wages.
Inflation ticked up last month, driven in part by higher energy costs linked to both Trump's trade policies and the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has pushed gas prices sharply higher. The consumer price index rose 3.7 percent in September on an annual basis, up from 3.4 percent in August. Food prices held steady month-over-month but were still 2.5 percent higher than a year ago.
A recent NBC News poll found that 55 percent of respondents believe Trump's policies have made economic conditions worse, while 26 percent said they have improved conditions and 18 percent saw no real impact. Those numbers underscore the political headwinds Republicans are facing.
Moore, however, insisted the fundamentals are solid. "The economy really is pretty strong," he said, pointing to record-low poverty rates, declining crime, and rising median incomes. "Clearly we have the best economy in the world. Every other country is envious of our economy."
His comments echo a broader debate within the GOP about how to message the economy. Some, like Kevin Hassett, argue that strong spending proves the economy is booming, while others worry that dismissing voter concerns could backfire. The tension is also visible in other policy areas, such as the GOP's push to deregulate AI, which has sparked voter backlash.
With the midterms days away, the question is whether Republicans can strike the right balance between acknowledging pain and projecting confidence. Moore's suggestion to channel Clinton's empathy may be one answer, but it remains to be seen if the party will heed it.
