Trump’s Tariffs, Oil Claims Meet Voter Rejection

President Donald Trump said the United States was making more money from tariffs and high oil prices, even as voters opposed his tariffs on Canada by 57%-20%, according to the article. At rallies in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday, Trump defended his trade policy and claimed that “tariffs don't cause inflation.”

The dispute puts the administration’s claims about national wealth alongside polling that shows public opposition. Recent polls from Fox News, AP-NORC and CNN found about 7 in 10 Americans or registered voters disapproved of Trump on tariffs. Each poll showed his worst numbers on the issue to date.

Tariffs, oil and the economy

In Bullhead City, Arizona, Trump said, “Our country is making more money than it's ever made because of the fact that oil is so high.” He also said that in oil-producing states, “we're making a fortune.” His remarks linked high oil prices and tariffs to the country’s earnings, but the article gave no figures for oil revenue or who receives it.

“I care more about the little person than I care about the big person,” Trump said. The article reported that he continued to argue there was no inflation and that the economy was in a “golden age.” A Pew Research Center poll released last month found 42% of Americans rated the economy “poor,” while 8 in 10 rated it “fair” or “poor.” Both figures reached new highs for Trump's second term.

U.S. wholesale inflation in September hit its highest level in more than four years, data released Thursday showed. Unfavorable inflation indicators also came out that week, even as Trump insisted tariffs don’t cause inflation.

Statehood claims and public opposition

Trump called Canadian trade policies “brutal,” saying, “They are brutal, and we don't take that crap anymore.” Then he said, “They'll end up being the 51st state, because it's the only way it works,” and added, “Just like Greenland.” Trump said he had never actually intended to invade Greenland, despite publicly reserving that option.

A February poll found 72% disapproved of Trump’s handling of Greenland. Polls last year found that 75% or 80% opposed making Canada the 51st state, depending on the poll. With less than three weeks remaining in the campaign, the article contrasted tariffs—an elective policy to pursue and promote—with subjects such as the Iran war.

Taxpayer money and political retreat

The administration appeared to retreat from proposals to spend millions of dollars in taxpayer funds on ads promoting Trump and to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. Trump said he would use campaign money for the ads, and on Thursday said the livestream wouldn’t happen.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Thursday found registered voters opposed to livestreaming Hasan’s execution, 80%-19%. In a Reuters-Ipsos poll the previous week, voters said taxpayer-funded political ads were inappropriate, 89%-9%. A Washington Post poll found registered voters opposed pardoning violent January 6 defendants, 83%-16%.

Many Republicans had cautioned against livestreaming Hasan’s execution, the article said, calling it a gruesome idea that could hand Islamic extremists a propaganda victory by making Hasan a public martyr. It said doubts apparently weren’t raised with Trump or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, or they were dismissed. Republicans running in the 2026 midterm elections were seeking distance from Trump, whom the article described as historically unpopular heading into the midterms.