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Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Pennsylvania next week to deliver remarks on the economy and the rising cost of living, as the administration intensifies its efforts to assure voters that it is prioritizing affordability issues, a spokesperson said.
Vance will speak next Tuesday at an event near Allentown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to reinforce President Donald Trump’s economic message from a similarly themed appearance in Mount Pocono, CNN reported.
During that more than 90-minute speech at a casino, Trump frequently strayed from his prepared focus on affordability, directing sharp criticism at Democrats and discussing topics ranging from wind energy in Scotland to a recent golf outing with Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the outlet noted.
“President Trump has made enormous strides in reversing the affordability crisis left behind by Democrats. From the historic working families tax cuts to over $18 trillion worth of investment in America, the benefits of the Trump economic agenda have only begun to kick in and there is more work to be done in the new year,” a Vance spokesperson told the outlet in announcing Vance’s upcoming travels.
“Expect Vice President Vance to emphasize the fact that making America affordable again is the number one priority of the Trump administration,” the spokesperson said, per the outlet.
Trump is expected to increase his domestic travel in 2026 as his team advances an economic message ahead of the midterm elections. Trump campaigned on ushering in a new era of economic prosperity, and recent polling indicates that a growing number of Americans believe he is delivering.
Sources familiar with internal discussions say that while the White House plans for President Trump to travel more frequently in an effort to strengthen his standing on economic issues, Vice President JD Vance is also expected to play a central role in that strategy.
Vance has been regarded inside the administration as one of Trump’s most effective messengers, particularly on issues officials consider essential to their midterm election plans. Emphasizing affordability and cost-of-living concerns will be a major focus of the vice president’s agenda heading into the new year, the sources said.
Trump announced on Saturday that he considers himself the “affordability president” due to his historic agreements with pharmaceutical companies aimed at reducing prescription costs. He urged Republicans to improve their messaging regarding how much prices are decreasing in the United States as the mid-term elections approach next year.
“Because I have invoked FAVORED NATIONS STATUS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DRUG PRICES ARE FALLING AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 500%, 600%, 700%, and more,” Trump wrote on his TruthSocial platform. “No other President has been able to do this, BUT I HAVE! This is also the answer to much less expensive, and far better, HEALTHCARE!
“Republicans, remember, this was done by us, and nobody else,” he added. “This is a revolution in medicine, the biggest and most important event, EVER. If this story is properly told, we should win the Midterm Elections in RECORD NUMBERS. I AM THE AFFORDABILITY PRESIDENT. TALK LOUDLY AND PROUDLY!”
The Trump administration has announced a series of actions aimed at lowering consumer costs, including fuel, food staples and prescription medications, while seeking to slow the pace of inflation that accelerated under the Biden administration.
The White House said President Trump secured agreements with several pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly committed to lowering the cost of their GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and AstraZeneca pledged to cap the prices it charges Medicaid at levels no higher than those offered in other countries.
Trump signed an executive order earlier this month rolling back tariffs on a broad range of grocery staples — including beef, coffee, tomatoes, and bananas — in a move aimed at lowering food prices and fulfilling his pledge to make life more affordable for American families.
The order exempts certain imported agricultural products from reciprocal tariffs imposed under earlier trade actions.
