Republican strategist Karl Rove on Wednesday accused President Trump of making a “key mistake” during the State of the Union by not addressing the concerns of disenchanted voters who are seeking relief from financial hardship.

“For them, the president’s speech almost certainly didn’t sound based in reality. Many Americans, especially swing voters, are pessimistic about the economy,” Rove wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, highlighting job loss in the manufacturing sector preceding potentially more reductions due to artificial intelligence.

For weeks, Rove has urged Trump to cater to his base of voters plagued by rising costs.

The strategist bucked the president’s claims that prices are decreasing and that tariffs would replace income tax, alleging that Trump “sounded as out of touch” as former President Biden when he preached “Bidenomics is working.”

In his Tuesday speech, Trump told listeners the economy was “roaring” and that America was “winning.” Rove said the vigor was motivating, yet Trump’s efforts rarely show in material policy.

“It too often sounded like a political convention speech rather than a presidential address. Even by the former’s standards, it was angry, pugnacious, and hence less effective,” Rove wrote.

“Mr. Trump offered elements of a credible, effective case for Republicans in the midterm campaign. But if they’re to defend their majority successfully, congressional Republicans must offer more substance, be more forward-looking, display more empathy, and focus much more on the economy than what Americans heard Tuesday,” he added.

Rove concluded the commentary with a clear call to the GOP: “They better get cracking. Time’s a-wasting.”

Thehill