Candidates for President in the USA, different approaches to the economy

2024-04-21 16:40:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US economy is a major factor in the election for the White House, as the president plays a key role in designing and setting the country's trade and economic policies. In the following material, VOA correspondent Carolyn Presuti talks about the state of the American economy and the differences between the two candidates on how they would handle it.

President Joe Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in a predominantly working-class neighborhood. Speaking about his background, Mr. Biden called his opponent Trump a candidate who has lost touch with reality.

“He watches the economy from Mar-a-Lago, where he and his wealthy friends support failed policies that have hurt working-class families for more than 40 years. Scranton or Mar-a-Lago values? These are competing visions for our economy, raising questions about the fundamental impartiality at the heart of this campaign," says President Biden.

At the start of Mr Trump's term, the economy was strong and unemployment at 3.5%. Dee Boisvert in New Hampshire is a supporter of Republican Trump.

"Everyone was happy and making money. Everything was fine."

But then the coronavirus pandemic spread. The last year of President Trump's term was accompanied by an unemployment rate of 14.7%. Last month, unemployment was at 3.8%. VOA spoke in Arizona with Mr. Howard Webster, a supporter of President Biden.

"What Joe Biden has done is we have the best economy ever and the lowest unemployment."

President Biden says his economic strategy is helping ordinary Americans.

"I see an America where the middle class enjoys good economic support and the poor class has a chance to get out of that situation," says Mr. Biden.

But many agree that inflation still remains high at around 3.5%, even as it has fallen from the record high of 2022. Voters blame President Biden.
Trump points the finger at his opponent Biden.

"We have to explain to the American people what's going on, because they're seeing what's happening at the border, they're dealing with inflation and the economy, which is in terrible shape," Mr. Trump said.

During his tenure in the White House, Mr. Trump favored domestic manufacturing policies. During a campaign rally he talked about vehicles made in Mexico.