Facing a rough political climate as his party aims to hold their House and Senate majorities in this year’s midterm elections, President Donald Trump on Tuesday kicks off what the White House says will be weekly stops in states with key ballot box showdowns.

It’s part of the president’s push to showcase he’s working to combat rising prices, a top issue on the minds of Americans. And as the Trump administration reels amid two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minnesota this month of U.S. citizens protesting aggressive tactics to deport millions of undocumented migrants, it’s also an effort to pivot to the economy from immigration.

Trump’s first stop is Iowa, a one-time Midwestern battleground turned red-leaning state the president carried by double digits in 2024 where Republicans are now playing defense as they defend open Senate and gubernatorial seats, as well as three competitive GOP-controlled House districts.

In suburban Des Moines, Trump will visit a local business, meet with lawmakers, and deliver an address on the economy.

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«The economy is good. It’s all good. Prices are coming way down, and we have a lot of very positive news,» Trump touted as he departed for Iowa.

And ahead of the trip, a White House official told Fox News Digital, «Inflation has cooled, economic growth is accelerating, and real wages are up for American workers.»

Deep concerns over inflation boosted Trump and Republicans to sweeping victories at the ballot box in 2024, as they won back the White House and Senate and keep their House majority.

But Democrats say their decisive victories in November’s 2025 elections, and their overperformances in special elections and other ballot box showdowns last year, were fueled by their laser focus on affordability amid persistent inflation.

The president’s approval on the economy has consistently hovered in negative territory since last March, and has dragged down his overall approval ratings during his first year back in the White House.

Among the most recent national polls — a Wall Street Journal survey conducted earlier this month put Trump’s approval rating on the economy at 44%-54%, and he stood at 35%-56% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in the field this past weekend.

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«Donald Trump has tanked the economy for working families, making the cost-of-living an inescapable hell for millions of Americans. Everyday Americans are drowning under the weight of rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and record layoffs — it’s no wonder they’re concerned about making ends meet,» Democratic National Committee Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer argued in a statement.

But the Wall Street Journal poll indicated that congressional Republicans had an 11-point advantage over their Democratic rivals when it came to which party was better equipped to handle the economy.

Iowa is friendly ground for Trump, who convincingly won the state in his two presidential victories and one re-election defeat.

President Donald Trump celebrates his victory in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses, at a campaign event in Des Moines on Jan. 15, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

But a memo from Democratic National Committee (DNC) Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman claimed, «However hard Trump tries to explain away his failing economy, it’s abundantly clear that Americans aren’t buying it, especially in Iowa, where Trump’s policies are raising costs for Iowans, devastating Iowa’s agricultural economy, and destroying thousands of jobs that working Iowans rely on.»

The White House disagrees, with the official arguing that «Iowans are better off with President Trump and Republican leadership,» noting that gas prices in the state «ranked the second lowest in the nation.»

And pointing to the various tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s domestic legislative achievement so far in his second term, the official said, «Iowans could see their wages rise up to $61,000 over the next four years.»

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The GOP, as it works to hold its congressional majorities, is dealing with a low propensity issue: MAGA voters who don’t always go to the polls when Trump’s name isn’t on the ballot.

But even though he’s not on the ballot this year, Trump pledged last week that he’ll be on the campaign trail «a lot» on behalf of fellow Republicans running in the midterms.

President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to deliver remarks on the U.S. economy and affordability at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, 2025. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Trump made stops last month and earlier this month in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan to highlight his accomplishments on the economy.

And the weekly trips advertised by the White House are a big change from Trump’s first term, when the president didn’t start his campaign travel blitz until Labor Day.

Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters emphasized in a Fox News Digital interview earlier this month that «the President of the United States is our secret weapon… He’s laser focused.»

«We got to make sure we turn our voters out, and we got to make sure that we have people energized. And there’s nobody that can energize our base more than President Trump,» Gruters added.

And the White House official said that the president «has always been most in his element when he’s interacting with everyday Americans, and the President’s domestic travel will allow him to most effectively underscore how this Administration has and continues to deliver economic prosperity for the American people.»

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Democrats are just fine with Trump hitting the road.

«Trump has historically low approval ratings because he has put America last, sold out working families to hand out favors to billionaires, and made life unaffordable. Hitting the road will only remind Americans of his failures and force GOP candidates to tie themselves to his cratering presidency,» DNC chair Ken Martin argued in a statement to Fox News Digital.

French lawmakers have backed a bill banning social media for children under 15 in what one legislator likened to a «battle for free minds.»

The bill, which also bans mobile phones in high schools, passed late Monday by a 130–21 vote. The bill will now head to the Senate for discussion before a final vote.

«With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless,» French lawmaker Laure Miller told the assembly.

«Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more,» she continued. «This is a battle for free minds.»

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Macron has pushed lawmakers to fast-track the legislation so that the ban could be in place in time for the start of the next academic year in September.

«Banning social media for those under 15: this is what scientists recommend, and this is what the French people are overwhelmingly calling for,» Macron said after the vote. «Because our children’s brains are not for sale — neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks. Because their dreams must not be dictated by algorithms.»

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech as he visits the Istres military air force base, southern France, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, Pool)

The idea of setting a minimum age for use of the platforms has gained momentum across Europe.

The vote comes days after the British government said it is considering similar restrictions as it tightens rules to protect children from harmful online content and excessive screen time.

PROTECTING KIDS FROM AI CHATBOTS: WHAT THE GUARD ACT MEANS

Australia introduced a world-first ban on social media for children under 16 years old in December, restricting access to platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

France’s health watchdog warned of links between heavy social media use and reduced self-esteem, as well as increased exposure to content tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, drug use and suicide. (Nimito/Getty Images)

France’s health watchdog reports that one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. A December report found that about 90% of children ages 12 to 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% using them for social media.

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The agency warned of links between heavy social media use and reduced self-esteem, as well as increased exposure to content tied to risky behaviors, including self-harm, drug use and suicide.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

El exvicepresidente de la República José Gabriel Carrizo Jaén fue aprehendido este martes en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, a su llegada a Panamá procedente de Guatemala, en cumplimiento de una orden formal de aprehensión y conducción emitida por la Fiscalía Superior Anticorrupción dentro de una investigación por presunto enriquecimiento injustificado.

Carrizo fue retenido por las autoridades migratorias apenas ingresó al país, luego de que el Servicio Nacional de Migración activara un impedimento solicitado por la Fiscalía Anticorrupción.

Posteriormente, fue trasladado bajo custodia a instalaciones del Ministerio Público y luego a la sede de la Dirección de Investigación Judicial (DIJ), ubicada en Ancón, donde permanece mientras se completan los trámites procesales correspondientes.

La orden de aprehensión fue emitida el lunes 26 de enero de 2026 mediante el Oficio N.° 731-2026, firmado por la fiscal superior Adela Cedeño, y se enmarca dentro de la Noticia Criminal N.° 202600005907.

En el documento se instruyó a la DIJ a ejecutar la captura y conducción del exfuncionario para ponerlo a disposición de las autoridades judiciales.

A su salida del aeropuerto, esposado y escoltado por agentes de la DIJ, Carrizo se dirigió brevemente a los medios de comunicación.

Ante la pregunta de si enfrentaría la justicia panameña, respondió: “Aquí estoy. Preferí no atender la juramentación del Parlacen y venirme en el primer vuelo”. Añadió que tomó la decisión tras enterarse, por los medios de comunicación, de la orden de aprehensión en su contra.

Carrizo insistió en que regresó voluntariamente al país para responder ante las autoridades. “Voy a venirme a Panamá con la frente en alto a dar la cara porque soy inocente”, afirmó.

También sostuvo que el proceso en su contra obedece a motivaciones políticas. “Es una persecución política en contra de mí”, dijo, al tiempo que aseguró que continuará denunciando lo que considera irregularidades en el manejo del caso.

En sus declaraciones, el exvicepresidente señaló que enfrenta “más de tres investigaciones en diferentes fiscalías sobre la misma causa” y reiteró que es inocente de los señalamientos. Al ser consultado sobre la naturaleza del proceso, respondió que se trata de una investigación por enriquecimiento injustificado.

La captura se produce apenas horas después de que Carrizo difundiera un video en sus redes sociales confirmando que se encontraba fuera del país desde el 17 de enero y que estaba en Guatemala.

En ese mensaje, indicó que para este martes 27 de enero estaba prevista su juramentación como exvicepresidente de la República ante el Parlamento Centroamericano (Parlacen), aunque adelantó que evaluaría su asistencia ante la situación legal que enfrentaba. Finalmente, según sus propias declaraciones, optó por no juramentarse y regresar a Panamá.

La eventual juramentación ante el Parlacen había generado expectativa jurídica, ya que de concretarse Carrizo habría adquirido fuero, lo que habría trasladado la competencia del caso a la Corte Suprema de Justicia.

Este cambio de jurisdicción suele implicar procesos más prolongados, como ha ocurrido en otros casos de alto perfil político en Panamá. Sin embargo, al no materializarse la juramentación, el exvicepresidente quedó sujeto a la jurisdicción penal ordinaria.

Carrizo ejerció la vicepresidencia de la República durante el período constitucional 2019–2024 y fue candidato presidencial del Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD) en las elecciones generales de 2024. Tras el vencimiento de su fuero penal electoral, quedó habilitada legalmente la acción del Ministerio Público para ordenar su conducción.

La investigación por presunto enriquecimiento injustificado se sustenta en auditorías patrimoniales realizadas por la Contraloría General de la República.

El 22 de octubre pasado, el contralor Anel Flores ordenó el secuestro de al menos ocho cuentas bancarias y bienes inmuebles vinculados al exvicepresidente, por un monto que podría ascender hasta $1.3 millones, al considerar que parte de su patrimonio no había podido ser debidamente justificado.

En declaraciones previas, Carrizo rechazó esas conclusiones y aseguró que el pasado 15 de enero presentó ante la Contraloría una auditoría forense que, según sostuvo, demuestra que no se ha enriquecido ilícitamente ni ha recibido fondos de empresas contratistas o subcontratistas del Estado.

También afirmó que su patrimonio proviene de recursos familiares anteriores a su llegada al Ejecutivo en 2019.

La defensa del exvicepresidente ha señalado que existen informes que respaldan la versión de su cliente y ha cuestionado el secuestro de bienes que, según indicó, no le pertenecen. La defensa también ha denunciado presuntas irregularidades durante las auditorías, incluyendo afectaciones a terceros.

Tras su aprehensión, Carrizo deberá ser notificado formalmente y someterse a las evaluaciones de rigor, a la espera de una audiencia ante un juez de garantías, en la que se definirán las medidas cautelares que correspondan.

Mientras tanto, la Fiscalía Anticorrupción mantiene activa la investigación, en un caso que se desarrolla bajo un fuerte escrutinio público y que se suma a otros procesos abiertos contra exfuncionarios y antiguos altos jerarcas del Estado en Panamá.