{"id":57190,"date":"2025-12-10T10:25:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T10:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/57190\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T10:25:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T10:25:18","slug":"trump-savages-rivals-touts-economic-record-at-packed-nepa-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/57190\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump savages rivals, touts economic record at packed NEPA rally"},"content":{"rendered":"

PARADISE TWP. \u2014 Flanked by banners boasting of \u201clower prices\u201d and \u201cbigger paychecks,\u201d President Donald Trump claimed to have delivered both for Northeast Pennsylvania during his return to the region to rally the Republican faithful ahead of next year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s economic message was occasionally obscured by sporadic asides about old grievances and new controversies.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentPresident Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)<\/p>\n

Addressing a packed and animated ballroom Tuesday at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County, the president pinballed between issues, mocked his political rivals and savaged his perceived enemies in his characteristic style. When discussing the economy, ostensibly the focus of his remarks, he was bullish, even as many Americans grapple with economic anxieties.<\/p>\n

Trump specifically took credit for mitigating an inflation and cost-of-living crisis he and other speakers blamed on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, with U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp., crediting Trump with fixing everything Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris \u201cbroke.\u201d<\/p>\n

An equally enthusiastic U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp.,\u00a0said Trump\u2019s return to the area \u201creflects our shared commitment to strengthening the middle class, rebuilding American industry and investing in regions just like ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RepublicanRepublican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., speaks before President Donald Trump arrives at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)<\/p>\n

But Trump\u2019s first visit to the region since October 2024 also coincides with continued criticism over his controversial tariffs and their impact on the affordability of certain consumer goods, as well as recent polling that shows declining economic confidence.<\/p>\n

Gallup\u2019s Economic Confidence Index<\/a>, which measures Americans\u2019 ratings of current economic conditions and their perceptions of whether the economy is improving or getting worse, dropped seven points in November to a 17-month low. Trump\u2019s approval rating also fell last month, with a November Gallup poll putting his overall approval rating and his approval rating on the issue of the economy at just 36%.<\/p>\n

Trump allies attributed Tuesday lingering economic challenges to Biden administration policies, heaping praise on Trump while sometimes acknowledging that work on the issue of affordability remains. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for example, called Biden \u201cand his autopen\u201d the \u201cchief architects\u201d of the worst inflation in a generation and lauded Trump for \u201cushering in a golden age economy by making America affordable again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People arrive before President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., speaks before President Donald Trump arrives at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump departs Air Force One after arriving at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport on Dec. 9, 2025 in Avoca, Pa. Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on his administration\u2019s economic agenda at Mount Airy Casino Resort. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump gestures to a chart as he speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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People arrive before President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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Extended applause and cheers greeted the president when he took the stage about 7:09 p.m., an eruption of support from the overflow crowd that braved frigid temperatures to see him speak. The size and enthusiasm of the audience, many of whom held cell phones aloft to record the moment, suggest their support for Trump hasn\u2019t abated.<\/p>\n

After wishing the crowd a Merry Christmas, Trump began his scattershot remarks by reflecting on his 2024 victory, telling the crowd they helped save America.<\/p>\n

During the meandering speech that followed, he blasted and belittled Biden, asking at one point whether \u201cSleepy Joe or Crooked Joe\u201d was a better nickname for the former president and Scranton native. He also ripped the \u201cfake news\u201d multiple times; praised \u201cclean, beautiful coal;\u201d called Obamacare \u201ca scam\u201d to benefit insurance companies; joked about his Caribbean boat strikes; touted his border crackdown and derisively raised a number of culture-war issues, from transgender athletes to Somali immigrants, to the delight of the crowd.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentPresident Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex BrandonAP)<\/p>\n

\u201cBiden and the radical-left Democrats turned Pennsylvania into a dumping ground for hundreds of thousands of migrants from the most dysfunctional places on earth, like Somalia, and gave them billions and billions of your taxpayer dollars,\u201d Trump said without citing any evidence.<\/p>\n

The broader theme of Trump\u2019s address, which lasted more than 90 minutes, was that he is rectifying myriad disasters inherited from the Biden administration. In defending his record the past 10-plus months, Trump also leaned into some of the more controversial actions he\u2019s taken during that time, including his trade war.<\/p>\n

We Pay the Tariffs, a grassroots coalition of small businesses opposed to Trump\u2019s tariffs, claimed in a Tuesday news release that Pennsylvania companies paid $5.7 billion in tariffs in the year ending August 2025, up significantly from $2.1 billion the previous year. It highlighted tariffs on medical devices, building materials, toys, apparel and other industries.<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump speaks during a gathering at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump dances after speaking at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump smiles as Donna Zajack speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump greets locals as he speaks at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump embraces Donna Zajack after he invited her onto stage as he speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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President Donald Trump speaks during a gathering at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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\u201cThese costs are incurred by businesses and passed on to Pennsylvania consumers in the form of higher prices,\u201d the organization said.<\/p>\n

Trump specifically targeted the \u201cfake news\u201d over media scrutiny of his tariff policy, dismissing criticism while claiming the controversial tariffs have generated hundreds of billions of dollars for the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite word is tariff,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing. The smart people understand it. Other people are starting to learn, but the smart people really understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point the enthusiastic crowd began chanting: \u201cFour more years!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you know what, we have three years and two months to go, and you know what that is in Trump time?\u201d the president asked rhetorically. \u201cThree years and two months is called eternity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump talks about being shot in the ear as he speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People arrive before President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., speaks before President Donald Trump arrives at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Rourke\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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President Donald Trump speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (Alex Brandon\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PARADISE TWP. \u2014 Flanked by banners boasting of \u201clower prices\u201d and \u201cbigger paychecks,\u201d President Donald Trump claimed to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57191,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[31479,61,31478,22133,3478,178,180,179,3857],"class_list":["post-57190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-airy","tag-economy","tag-mount","tag-poconos","tag-rally","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-trump"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57190\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}