Ahead of Trump’s visit, residents in a North Carolina town say they feel squeezed by high costs
December 18, 2025
President Donald Trump will visit the eastern North Carolina town of Rocky Mount on Friday, the second time this month he will have traveled to a presidential battleground state to focus on the economy and affordability concerns. The high prices Trump promised to solve during his 2024 campaign persist as a liability for the president and his party heading into next year’s midterm elections. In Rocky Mount, residents say they feel the same financial strains many Americans say they are under, with high prices for groceries, housing and utilities among their top concerns. Trump, meanwhile, is urging patience and says the economy is trending upward.