Former President Donald Trump, now nearly a year back in office, has continued to dominate headlines with his trademark combative rhetoric and comparisons to his predecessor, President Joe Biden. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump repeatedly mentioned Biden’s name—over 20 times—branding him a “sleepy son of a bitch” while claiming that America is thriving under his leadership. The Republican president portrays himself as energetic and decisive, contrasting himself with what he calls Biden’s declining mental and physical capacities, and credits his administration with creating an economic “golden age.”
Trump’s statements, however, echo patterns seen in previous administrations. In April 2024, Biden had declared that the U.S. had “the best economy in the world,” a claim met with skepticism from voters who were concerned about inflation and living costs. Similarly, Trump told Politico on Tuesday that the U.S. economy deserves an “A+++++,” asserting that prices are falling despite ongoing complaints from Americans about high living expenses.
Political analysts note that a core segment of Trump’s base tends to accept his statements unquestioningly. Alex Keena, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, explained, “There will always be a portion of his supporters that are going to be with him regardless. If he says the sky is not blue, then they will agree that the sky is not blue.” Yet, Keena emphasized, this does not reflect the majority of the American public, who make decisions based on tangible experiences such as household expenses and everyday economic realities.
As Trump continues to campaign and draw comparisons with Biden, the recurring themes of energy, economic success, and personal attacks underscore his signature political style, even as polling numbers and public perception raise questions about how Americans evaluate his claims.
