Life was better when Trump was president

OPINION:

Former President Donald Trump’s time serving french fries at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania was about more than a photo-op. He again sent a powerful message to the American people that he’s got them. 

While coastal elites sip $6.50 lattes, many of our fellow citizens are trying to live on the Dollar Menu at McDonald’s. Plus, Mr. Trump was comfortable with the people working there.

I loved his response when one of the people who came to the drive-thru window said, “You made it possible for ordinary people like us to meet you.” The former president smiled at the customer and said: “You aren’t ordinary. You are not ordinary.”  

We need more of this, please, for Mr. Trump to win. Voters can see a leader who is comfortable with himself and occasionally contentious with others but who loves the American people. He connects with them. 

Mr. Trump’s visit to McDonald’s also reinforces his most powerful tool in this race: Prices are high, and people are hurting. For example, a McDonald’s cheeseburger costs 55% more since President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris entered the White House. Grocery, gas and housing prices have all increased since they took office in 2021. Mr. Trump loves Americans, and he wants to make it easier to afford to live in this great country.  

In contrast, Ms. Harris is running a campaign based on fear. After the initial pitch about joy, she is focused on attacking Mr. Trump. Her recent visit to Brookfield, Wisconsin, was a classic example of her plan. The audience was actually told that there would be no impromptu questions. The entire event was scripted and featured former Rep. Liz Cheney. 

Instead of the Republican former congresswoman from Wyoming making the case for Ms. Harris’ leadership skills, the focus was on why Mr. Trump was bad. It is important to remember that four years ago, she said, “Kamala Harris is a radical liberal and supports dangerous policies that would devastate millions of Americans.” 

Like so many in the political and media establishment, Ms. Cheney is obsessed with Jan. 6. As I posted on the night of the vice presidential debate, voters have moved on and care more about high prices and the economy, border security, illegal drugs reaching their children and violent crime rising in our cities.

A new Gallup Poll shows that 52% believe that they are worse off than they were four years ago, while only 36% believe that they are better off. This is the real problem for Ms. Harris. 

Her only hope is to scare people into thinking Mr. Trump would do awful things over the next four years that he did not do while he was president and trick people into thinking she would do good things over the next four years that she and Mr. Biden have not done for nearly four years. 

In its own version of an October surprise, The Atlantic printed a blistering story about Mr. Trump. Ben Williamson, spokesperson for former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, stated clearly: “President Donald Trump absolutely did not say that. He was nothing but kind and gracious, and he wanted to be sure that the military and the U.S. government did right by Gloria Guillen and her daughter Vanessa Guillen.”

The Guillen family blasted the story. The sister of the slain Army private went on X to express her outrage. Mayra Guillen posted:

“Wow. I don’t appreciate how you are exploiting my sister’s death for politics- hurtful & disrespectful to the important changes she made for service members,” she said. “President Donald Trump did nothing but show respect to my family & Vanessa. In fact, I voted for President Trump today.”

The American people can see through the lies. 

Why are Ms. Harris and her cronies jumping on these attacks as their closing argument? They’ve got nothing else to run on. Voters are smarter than most of the liberals in Washington give them credit for, and they know that it is Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris who have been in office since January 2021. 

Mr. Trump’s stop at McDonald’s on Sunday sent a clear message that he understands the plight of most Americans and wants to do something about it. Ironically, moments like that also show his joy in the campaign as he interacts with people. 

Voters know that life was better when Donald Trump was president. Kamala Harris has not given them a reason to believe that life would be better with her as president. That’s why he is going to win.

• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.