JD Vance touts ‘A+++’ economy in Pennsylvania remarks, promises there’s more progress ahead 

The Trump administration’s number one goal? “Making America affordable again,” Vice President J.D. Vance’s office told The Lion, as Vance hammered the issue in Pennsylvania Tuesday. 

Speaking at Uline Shipping Supplies center just outside of Allentown, Vance touted wage growth, an “A+++” economy – echoing President Donald Trump’s own rating from last week – and promised middle class Americans they will have “the best tax season in 2026 that you’ve ever had.”  

“President Trump has made enormous strides in reversing the affordability crisis left behind by Democrats,” a Vance spokesperson told The Lion ahead of remarks. “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.” 

The spokesperson said Vance would emphasize that “making America affordable again is the number one priority of the Trump administration.” 

With the midterm elections less than a year away, the Trump administration has been honing in on affordability issues, as polling indicates Americans are concerned about the handling of the economy.  

Vance hammered a clear line: former President Joe Biden broke the economy and Trump is fixing it by putting money back in Americans’ pockets – though the job’s not done. Vance acknowledged that while there is a “lot of good out there,” there is also “a lot that we are still working to fix.” 

“My point, ladies and gentlemen, is that we are making progress,” he said. “And I know that there is so much more progress to be made.” 

The average American family lost $3,000 of take-home pay through inflation under Biden, he said, and under Trump, the average family has gained $1,000. 

“When Joe Biden was president for four years, he took $3,000 out of your pocket, and in just 10 months of the president’s leadership, we have put $1,000 back in your pocket,” Vance said. “And that’s just the beginning.” 

Vance said the country under Trump is “building again” and is “investing in the United States of America Again.” 

“61,000 jobs added in the month of November, and that’s not all,” he said. We saw private sector wage growth grow at a rate of 4.2%.” 

Vance also said he was surprised at Democrats’ recent focus on affordability.  

“Democrats say things aren’t affordable,” he said. “Drugs have gotten more expensive; housing has gotten more expensive. And you know what? They’re right. And it was because of them.” 

Vance said housing became unaffordable under Biden because his administration “let in 20 million illegal immigrants who took homes that ought, by right, go to American citizens.” Healthcare costs soared because Biden “allowed prescription drug companies to take advantage of this country,” he said. 

“So if you look at every single affordability crisis that we talk about in the United States of America today, it’s because we inherited a nightmare of an economy from Joe Biden.”