Economic speech leaves economic doubts: 'I wasn’t impressed with him' — WNC community reacts to Trump's State of the Union address
Residents in Hendersonville, N. C., voiced skepticism about President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, with several saying his comments on the economic outlook did not land. The word economic recurred as locals described mixed business conditions, layoffs and uneven job data across western North Carolina.
Local reaction at Mike’s on Main
Dawn Sewell, a waitress who has worked for six years at Mike’s on Main Sandwich Shop in Hendersonville, said she enjoys her job and is always ready with a smile and good service. Sewell said she voted for President Donald Trump in his second term. As Sewell watched a portion of President Trump's State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Feb. 24, she said what he said about the economy did not resonate. Sewell added that business at the sandwich shop has been down since Helene but may be slightly coming back, and she’s unsure of what to expect with business and the economy in Hendersonville but will continue to work hard in her shifts. The article’s time stamp for coverage is Feb. 25, 2026.
Builder’s account on Main Street
Aaron Black, a home and commercial builder whose construction business has its main office on Main Street, said he is feeling inflation’s effects. "I feel like it’s kicking everyone in the teeth, including myself, " Black said. He also said, "For us, the economy’s great. " Black said his firm is doing well, but he is not so sure about others in Henderson County and said he feels people are hurting. He said current data for jobs in western North Carolina doesn’t paint a clear picture of the current economic trend for the region, up or down.
Economic impressions from Main Street
In the State of the Union address, President Trump talked about a strong stock market and said core inflation is down. That message contrasted with local sentiment on Main Street, where residents described both improvement for some businesses and continuing strain for others after Helene.
Workforce report and regional numbers
A recent study by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board crunched jobs and employment data for Henderson, Buncombe, Madison, and Transylvania counties since 2020. The report found that from 2020 to 2025, jobs increased by 9. 4%, which is just 1. 2% below the national growth of 10. 6%. But looking closely at the trends, 2025 had fewer jobs in the four-county region compared to 2024. The Mountain Area Workforce Development Board says unemployment is down to 3. 2% in western NC.
Manufacturing layoffs and Helene
Two major regional manufacturers in the past 60 days announced major layoffs. Baxter in Marion, which makes IV medical devices, said 90 workers would be let go due to the economic impacts of Helene. Other reporting noted that Baxter eliminates 3% of Marion facility's workforce, citing post-Helene market conditions.
Economic concerns from an analyst
Cohen expressed worry about broader trends: "I worry about a slowdown or a recession, " Cohen said. "There are a lot of policies that are creating uncertainty, and so we’re trying to see how companies, businesses, and households are reacting to those policies. But the U. S. economy continues to power through a lot of this uncertainty, so that makes people more optimistic that maybe we’ll continue to power through. But I think there are definitely worrying trends. "
Community reactions in Hendersonville ranged from tentative optimism about returning customers to sharper concerns about inflation and recent layoffs. Some voters used words captured in the coverage’s headline—"I wasn’t impressed with him"—while others pointed to conflicting local indicators, underscoring an uneven picture of recovery after Helene and mixed signals in the job data.
