BURSTRepublican strategist Karl Rove warned President Trump about making too many promises to the American people about the quality of the economy, predicting failure to deliver could cost Republicans in the midterm elections.
"On economics, Team Trump is making the same mistake as the last administration," Rove wrote in a recent op-ed for The Wall Street Journal. "President Biden and big-name Democrats went across America proclaiming 'Bidenomics is working.' People felt the opposite."
The danger for Trump, the cable news pundit argued, is "he’s addicted to superlatives and self-congratulations and prone to declaring premature success."
"While Republicans generally agree with the president’s depiction of things, independents don’t," said Rove, who previously served as a top aide to former President George W. Bush. "They are deeply concerned about tariffs, debt and prices."
He also wrote that Trump and his allies "would be smarter to underpromise and overdeliver, especially since righting the economy will take time."
"It’s self-destructive for Republicans to make over-the-top claims," the pundit wrote. "How voters feel about their own circumstances will hugely influence next year’s outcome. Seeming out of touch could make the midterms even harder."
The analysis comes as the president seeks to reassure the public about the economy following the latest dismal jobs report and uncertainty around his trade agenda following the latest rollout of tariffs on foreign trading partners.
Rove is also a political contributor for Fox News and has drawn the president's ire with his commentary on several occasions.