Trump, Vance offer contrasting pitches amid decade-low confidence

President Donald Trump has told crowds the golden age of America is upon us, and dismissed affordability concerns as a hoax. Vice President JD Vance has said there are people out there who are frustrated by the pace of progress, recognized that gas prices are too high right now, and said we're working on it. Consumer confidence fell in September to its lowest level since April 2014. The 30-year mortgage rate climbed to 7.49%, the highest in nearly three years, and unemployment rose. Energy costs are adding to inflation and pushing prices up elsewhere. Trump made the golden-age claim in Nebraska on Oct. 5 while citing investment and construction, told a Kentucky crowd the nation is doing better now than ever before, and called higher gas prices a small price to pay. Vance spoke in Texas in September and at a CBS News town hall that aired Oct. 17. An AP-NORC poll Sept. 24-28 found 17% approved his handling of cost of living and 26% the economy; 65% said higher prices were due to his policies. A later AP-NORC survey found about three-quarters disapprove on both; NBC News found 71% say the country is on the wrong track. Contested: None recorded. Midterms are Nov. 3, 2026.