President Donald Trump is expected to highlight his economic agenda and efforts to reduce inflation at a high-profile visit Tuesday evening to the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.
His visit comes less than a year before the pivotal 2026 midterm elections, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The casino resort is in Pennsylvania’s 8th District, which is considered one of the most competitive districts in the country and is represented by Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, who narrowly ousted Democrat Matt Cartwright last year.
Monroe County flipped to Trump in the 2024 election, after having backed Joe Biden in 2020.
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who represents the Lehigh Valley, also a highly competitive political region, said in a news release that he would attend Trump’s event.
“The people of Pennsylvania were among the hardest hit by inflation during the previous administration, and many in our community are still recovering,” Mackenzie said in a written statement. “That’s why I have been advocating for policies that deliver affordability throughout my time in office, and why it remains my top priority. Working alongside President Trump, we’re securing legislative wins for the American people that will raise wages, rein in costs, and support small businesses. We’re looking forward to hearing President Trump discuss the work we’ve done and his plans for further action.”
The president will specifically discuss “ending the inflation crisis that he says was inherited from his predecessor, President Joe Biden,” the Associated Press reported last week, citing an anonymous White House official.
The visit comes as voter support for Trump’s economic agenda has waned in recent months: According to a November NBC News poll, only 30% of voters believe Trump has lived up to their expectations to bring down inflation and the cost of living.
Trump continues to insist that inflation has faded.
“We’re bringing prices way down,” Trump said at the White House on Monday. “You can call it ‘affordability’ or anything you want — but the Democrats caused the affordability problem, and we’re the ones that are fixing it.”
In a virtual news conference Tuesday morning, a group of Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers and political advocates, including Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis and Pennsylvania House Minority Whip Mike Schlossberg, who represents parts of Allentown and its suburbs, blasted Trump’s visit. They criticized Trump policies including the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will cut taxes for most Americans but is expected to disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and will exclude millions more from Medicaid health insurance via implementing work requirements.
Critics made the case that their communities are struggling under the current economy and will reject Trump’s message that he is working to make their expenses more affordable.
“The truth is that the Trump administration and their Republican allies in Congress have almost enacted a comprehensive squeeze play designed to hurt people in Pennsylvania who are suffering the most, and as a result, you have people who will be dropping their health insurance, who will be relying more on social service programs and on food banks,” Schlossberg said.
On cable news station MS NOW, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday night also criticized Trump’s visit, and contrasted his leadership at the state level with that of Trump’s.
“Every time we cut taxes and put money back in people’s pockets or create more jobs or economic opportunity, we run into the federal government’s economic policies, Trump’s economic policies, which make it harder,” Shapiro said.
A group of Democratic and left-leaning organizations, including Indivisible Poconos, For Our Future and Mutual Aid of the Poconos, has planned a protest against the event at a nearby ShopRite parking lot. Protesters plan to draw attention to the rising cost of health care and groceries, according to a news release.
Trump is scheduled to begin his remarks at 6 p.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.