Donald Trump visited Rocky Mount and drew mixed reactions from residents squeezed by rising grocery, housing and utility costs after he defended his first year back in the presidency in a recent White House address.Local voices such as Daijah Bryant, who worked long hours to buy holiday gifts, and Lucy Slep, who says more people sell jewelry than buy it, described persistent strain in a city that has struggled with empty storefronts, higher municipal utility bills and a congressional map recently redrawn to favor the GOP.Independent data complicate the White House’s upbeat message: the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ November food index rose about 2.6 percent year over year with meat, poultry, fish and eggs up 4.7 percent, some grocery items spiking far more, energy costs climbing and polls showing weak economic approval and fact‑checkers disputing some administration investment tallies totaling about $9.6 trillion.