Trump’s Promises: A Closer Look at the Campaign’s Final Days
In the final days of his campaign, former President Donald J. Trump has been prominently showcasing banners that read, “Trump Will Fix It.” This slogan has been a recurring theme in his online advertisements as well. As he stated in a recent election-eve ad, “I’ll fix it.” He emphasizes that issues such as inflation, immigration, and crime are soaring, and he positions himself as the sole candidate capable of addressing these challenges.
However, there is a notable contradiction in his assertions regarding these three significant problems. In reality, they have been largely mitigated, at least to some extent. For instance, illegal border crossings have decreased significantly, falling below the levels recorded when President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris assumed office after Mr. Trump. Moreover, crime rates are nearing their lowest levels in decades. Additionally, inflation has decelerated to a more typical rate.
While it’s true that improvements could be made in any of these areas, and that the current solutions may only be temporary, the lasting impacts of earlier inflation surges and illegal immigration during the Biden-Harris administration are still very much present. Prices have stabilized and are no longer escalating as they once were, yet they have not reverted to previous levels. Although fewer individuals are entering the country illegally now, millions who arrived in recent years remain within the borders. Furthermore, there is a broad consensus that the immigration system as a whole is still fundamentally flawed.
Despite these developments, Mr. Trump continues to portray the situation as if these issues are still at a crisis level, akin to the acute stages experienced earlier in Mr. Biden’s tenure. He speaks as though prices are still soaring uncontrollably, the borders are overwhelmed, and crime is rampant. For example, at a closing rally held at Madison Square Garden in New York just a week ago, he declared, “We will rapidly defeat inflation.” He went on to assert, “I will also restore our borders,” and emphasized his commitment by stating, “We will crush violent crime.”
Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and former economist for President Barack Obama, commented on this discrepancy, noting, “He’s out of date on the problems.” As the campaign draws to a close, the slogan “Trump Will Fix It” has become a defining feature of Mr. Trump’s electoral messaging.
