Trump visits GA, talks elections, tariffs & more. Here’s what he said vs what the record shows

President Donald Trump visited Rome, Georgia, Thursday for a nearly 90-minute speech at Coosa Steel Corporation. The White House called it an economic trip, but his remarks touched on several other issues.

Here’s what happened and why it matters to Georgia.

Rome’s significance

Rome is in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District and is headed toward a special election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned.

This district could be an early indicator of Trump’s influence in the upcoming elections, and Rome is an avenue to further narratives on election fraud, the economy and tariffs.

Talking points:

• Greene resigned after a dispute with Trump.
• A special election to replace her is on March 10.
• 13 of the 18 candidates are Republican.
• Trump has endorsed local district attorney Clay Fullers, and he appeared on stage with him.

Promises on the economy

Trump’s official message was that he has won the fight on affordability, and he blamed Democrats for higher costs.

He said, “They caused the affordability problem. And we solved it.”

Talking points:

• Claimed prices are down on groceries, rent, airfare, cars and more
• Says he’s secured $18 trillion for investment commitments in 11 months
• Credited his 50% tariffs on foreign steel with saving companies like the one hosting him
• Promoted the Working Families Tax Cut and “Trump Accounts,” claiming the Dell family has funded with $6.25 billion

What the numbers show:

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found 61% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living.

According to January 2026 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index:

• Overall inflation was 2.4% in January.
• Food prices are up nearly 3% year over year.
• Housing costs remain high.

On the Georgia elections

Before his formal remarks, Trump spoke at the Varsity drive-in about his suspicions concerning the 2020 election.

He told the crowd, “They came in, they took all those ballots; all those crooked ballots were taken. And the Democrats are fighting like hell. They don’t want anyone to see those ballots. Let’s see what happens.”

Talking points:

• Raised claims of voter fraud and the “stolen” election
• Said the FBI’s raid of Fulton County’s elections headquarters seized bad ballots
• Called for mandatory voter ID and elimination of most mail-in ballots

The record shows:

• Claims about a stolen election have been widely debunked.
• There’s no evidence of widespread fraud that changed Georgia’s 2020 result.
• The raid on the Fulton County election headquarters was based on unsubstantiated claims.

On tariffs

Trump addressed the U.S. Supreme Court case weighing whether he has the legal authority to impose worldwide tariffs through emergency powers. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision on Friday, struck down most of Trump’s tariffs.

“I’ve been waiting forever, forever, and the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president,” Trump declared. He added, “The tariff is the greatest thing that has happened to this country.”

Talking points:

• Credited his 50% tariffs on foreign steel with saving domestic steel companies
• Framed tariffs broadly as a tool for protecting American manufacturing jobs and bringing foreign investment back to the U.S.
• The $18 trillion in investment commitments he cited was tied in part to his tariff and trade policies.

The Supreme Court decision Trump referenced came just 24 hours after his remarks in Rome.

He told reporters just after it was announced, “Their decision is incorrect. But it doesn’t matter because we have very powerful alternatives.” He went on to say he was “absolutely ashamed” of the six justices that voted against the tariffs, calling them “lapdogs” and “disloyal to our Constitution.”

Economists are split over tariffs:

• The Tax Foundation suggests the tariffs function as regressive taxes on domestic consumers and businesses, raising prices, reducing economic output and decreasing after-tax incomes.
• The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) consistently finds that U.S. tariffs, particularly recent broad-based proposals, damage the U.S. economy by reducing output, driving up inflation and lowering wages.
• Harvard economist Dani Rodrik views tariffs not as a universal evil but as a potential tool that is useful only if part of a broader, targeted domestic industrial policy.

Georgia heading into the midterms

Information of interest:

• Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the governor’s race.
• The 14th District race is a national test of Trump’s endorsement power. 
• 14 other GOP candidates are staying in the race regardless.
• The district is rated the most Republican in Georgia.
• Democrats are watching the crowded Republican field as a measure for the future.
• Trump’s approval rating stands at 37%, down from 40% in the fall.

Did you watch his remarks in Rome or after the SCOTUS decision? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story was originally published February 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Trump visits GA, talks elections, tariffs & more. Here’s what he said vs what the record shows."