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Throughout the previous race for the White House, Donald Trump wooed voters with pledges to lower prices starting on day one. However, after his inauguration, there was minimal focus to affordability issues. All that changed following inflation-weary voters delivered a rebuke at the polls. Shortly thereafter, his team initiated a hastily assembled campaign to tackle affordability. Regrettably, the drive is a hot mess—characterized by absurdity, inconsistencies, unrealistic expectations, scapegoating, and Trumpian dishonesty.

Detached Assertions and Supermarket Reality

Just two days after the election, Trump began his cost-reduction push with a disastrous remark: “Food prices are way down. All items is way down… So I don’t want to hear about the cost of living.” This comment from the wealthy leader—often associates with other ultra-rich individuals—demonstrated a lack of empathy for millions of Americans facing difficulties every time they go the grocery store. In effect, he dismissed their concerns as unimportant, suggesting they had it wrong about actual costs.

His assertion that everything was “way down” proved absurdly obtuse and inaccurate. In what way could every price be falling when his cherished tariffs were increasing costs? Recent data indicate the cost of bananas increased 6.9% in the last twelve months, beef prices went up 14.7%, and the cost of coffee surged by nearly 19%—in part because of import taxes on Brazil’s coffee and beef. Between January and September, costs increased in the majority of food categories tracked by the Consumer Price Index, including meats, poultry, and fish (rising over 4%), non-alcoholic beverages (up 2.8%), and fruits and vegetables (rising slightly).

Inconsistencies and Inaccuracies in Economic Claims

In spite of the evidence, the president continues to push his big lie about lower costs. Since election day, he has stated there is “virtually no inflation,” insisted “costs have fallen significantly,” and argued “it is far less expensive under Trump than it was under sleepy Joe Biden.” These statements contradict the fact that prices overall have unarguably risen since Biden left office. Currently, inflation is at a 3 percent per year, which is half again as much than the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. In another falsehood, Trump boasted that gas prices had dropped to nearly $2 a gallon, despite government figures indicate they are $3.19.

Confronted by reality and lower approval ratings, some Trump aides evidently cautioned that his “costs are falling” message portrayed him as dangerously out of touch from ordinary people. A lot of voters are angry about rising costs following assurances of reductions. In response, aides suggested one quick fix: roll back certain import taxes. The logical move clashed with the president’s unrealistic claim that new tariffs would not increase costs for American shoppers.

Proposed Solutions and Their Potential Impact

As some tariffs reduced on coffee, beef, tomatoes, and bananas, the administration will probably announce that he has lowered costs once those foods begin to fall in price. This would be like an arsonist boasting for extinguishing a blaze that he ignited. On another occasion, when addressing McDonald’s executives, he stated that “we are in the peak period of America” and told listeners that “costs are decreasing and all of that stuff.” These comments are easy for a billionaire to make, but seem insincere to countless households who are struggling—particularly when many risk cuts to nutrition assistance or skyrocketing health premiums.

Per a survey from October, 74% of Americans think the state of the economy are fair or poor, while just a quarter rate them good or excellent. Another poll found that 61% of Americans say Trump’s policies have “worsened economic conditions” in the country.

Economic Truth and Proposed Measures

The treasury secretary, the president’s top economic official, lately contradicted assertions of a golden age. He stated that far from booming, some parts of the American economy “are in recession.” Industrial production—which Trump vowed to save—appears to have contracted for multiple consecutive months and shed approximately tens of thousands of positions this year. Citing these challenges, Bessent called on the central bank to cut interest rates—a move that could help affordability.

Reacting to public dismay about living costs, the president proposed a cash handout of “a payout of at least $2,000 a person” not for “high income people.” For many struggling Americans, this sounds like manna from heaven, but it is unlikely that Congress—concerned about huge budget deficits—will enact the proposal. This idea would likely increase federal spending, increase borrowing costs, and potentially fuel inflation by injecting cash into the economy.

A further supposed fix for cost issues centered on introducing 50-year mortgages, with the notion that this would lower housing costs. But, the truth is that 50-year mortgages would do little to reduce installments—frequently cutting them by just $100 or $200 per month. The drawback is that these mortgages could significantly increase the overall cost borrowers pay and hinder building home value.

Blaming the Past Government and Financial Outlook

As part of their affordability campaign, Trump and his team have again pointed fingers at the previous president for economic problems, such as rising prices. Spokespeople claimed they “faced a mess from Joe Biden” and were “addressing the prior administration’s price hikes.” This is absurd and untruthful allegations. Actually, Biden handed over a strong economy, with low price growth, solid expansion, and unemployment low. But, Trump’s policies—especially import taxes—have created an economic mess, driving costs higher and reducing economic output.

Per Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, numerous regions are already in recession, with their conditions worsened by Trump’s tariffs. Zandi worries that if key regions such as California and New York enter a downturn, the nation could face a widespread recession. In downturns, people generally possess reduced funds to spend, and price increases usually declines. Sadly, given Trump’s much-ballyhooed cost initiative likely to do little to control costs, his most effective “tool” for improving living standards might end up triggering an economic contraction—something that hard-pressed households cannot handle.