U.S. President Donald Trump adjust his ball cap next to first lady Melania Trump as they give out treats during a Halloween event at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 30, 2025.
For decades, many Americans have viewed Republicans as stronger on the economy and national security. But that perception may be shifting. One strategist argued that Democrats should make a more forceful case that the GOP’s reputation for economic competence is a myth and that it's time to directly challenge it.
The New Republic's Michael Tomasky wrote on Monday morning that Americans are starting to see the truth behind "trickle-down economics" and that Republicans love the military is a "lie, lie and lie."
"For decades now, the Republican Party has built it electoral success on myths and lies," said Tomasky. "Ronald Reagan was the last Republican president who your average person would say left the country better off than he found it. I wouldn’t say that, for a range of ideological reasons, but I’m a liberal. I’m ready to admit, however, that your average person would say that about him."
Strategist Simon Rosenberg has spent years focusing on the economy under each party and charting contrasts between ts the policies of GOP lawmakers and Democrats like Franklin D. Roosevelt. Tomasky cited a recent email from Rosenberg that had a chart showing the average job growth under all presidents since World War II. The average monthly job growth among Democratic presidents dating back to FDR comes out to 176,000. For Republicans, that number is 59,000.
President Donald Trump's presidency shows him underwater on job growth. In his current term, he averages about 44,000 a month, and during his first term, it was -7,000 because of the significant job loss during the pandemic. Former President Joe Biden averages about 336,000 jobs per month.
The divide is even starker since 1989, Tomasky wrote. Democratic presidents held office for about 20 years and Republicans for 17.4 years, yet Democrats oversaw the creation of roughly 49.8 million jobs, compared with 1.9 million under Republicans. He said Democrats also performed better on median household income, GDP growth, stock-market performance, and deficit reduction.
Yet, Republicans retain their reputation as the party better equipped to manage the economy. Tomasky explained that there are three main reasons for this. First, the GOP’s association with corporate America and Wall Street encourages voters to equate business success with sound economic policy. Second, Republican-friendly media repeatedly amplify good economic news under GOP presidents while magnifying bad news under Democrats. Third, Democrats fail to make their own case clearly or consistently.
He contends that Democrats should go on the attack against Republicans about claims of economic competence rather than treating those views as unchangeable. As an example, he points to the 2004 “Swift Boat” attacks on John Kerry, which successfully weakened public perceptions of Kerry’s military record despite being widely disputed. Democrats, Tomasky says, do not need to manufacture attacks like that. Instead, they could merely communicate the economic record.
Tomasky is blunt: Democrats should make it about the raw numbers. There were 49.8 million jobs under Democratic presidents versus 1.9 million under Republicans. It's an argument that should be the centerpiece of their argument through 2028.
