The 2026 midterm elections loom as a potential disasterBased on YouGov statistics, a staggering 69% of Americans – including a majority of Republicans – believe Trump's tariffs are raising prices rather than protecting workers. PHOTO: REUTERSFOR nearly a decade, Donald Trump has demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to defy political gravity. But as 2026 unfolds, a fundamentally different dynamic appears to be taking hold, one where the US president’s signature promises collide with stubborn economic realities. The economic reckoningTrump secured his 2024 victory on the strength of voter confidence in his economic management. Yet, just over a year into his second term, that confidence has evaporated.