BOONES MILL, Va. (WDBJ) – With exactly 57 days remaining until Election Day, the battle for control of Washington is intensifying as Republicans prepare to rally their base at a rare mid-cycle national convention in Dallas.
But as high-profile conservative speakers gather, they do so under the shadow of record-low approval numbers for President Donald Trump and a sluggish economy that local business owners say is directly hurting their bottom lines.
High-Profile Speakers, Low Approval Ratings
The convention, a highly unusual event for a non-presidential election year, boasts a star-studded lineup of conservative speakers. Confirmed presenters include Vice President JD Vance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on Wednesday night.
However, the convention arrives as a newly released poll from the Financial Times indicates deep vulnerabilities for the administration. According to the poll, only 33% of registered voters approve of the president’s job performance, the lowest rating he has ever received from the publication.
The decline is not limited to swing voters. Among registered Republicans, the President’s approval has dropped to a new low of 72%, representing a two-point decline from last month. Survey respondents overwhelmingly cited economic anxiety and ongoing fighting in the Middle East as their primary concerns.
‘Essential Buying’ Only: The Economic Toll on the Ground
The conflict in the Middle East has had direct domestic repercussions, contributing to a record-high cost for a gallon of diesel fuel.
To see how this shift in voter sentiment and economic strain is translating to local businesses, WDBJ7 visited “Trump Town USA,” a prominent memorabilia store in Boones Mill, Virginia.
Owner Donald “Whitey” Taylor says the economic slump has hit his business hard. At its peak, the shop brought in as much as $15,000 a day in sales. That daily revenue has plummeted to just $1,500.
Despite the 90% drop in sales, Taylor blames the slowdown on a tight economy rather than a decline in personal support for the president.
“It’s dropped off, of course because of the economy,” Taylor said. “The economy is not that good anywhere. Everybody knows gasoline is driving everything. People are only buying the essentials—gasoline and food.”
Taylor remains optimistic that interest will rebound as political momentum builds, noting that his shop typically sees a surge in business tied to major national events, such as the upcoming midterm elections.
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