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Throughout the previous presidential campaign, the former president wooed voters with promises to reduce prices immediately upon taking office. However, once his inauguration, he seemed to pay minimal attention to the cost of living. This shifted following price-fatigued citizens expressed dissatisfaction at the polls. Shortly thereafter, his team launched a hastily assembled effort to address living costs. Unfortunately, this initiative is a disorganized endeavor—characterized by absurdity, inconsistencies, magical thinking, blame-shifting, and misleading statements.

Out-of-Touch Assertions and Grocery Store Truth

Merely 48 hours after the election, Trump kicked off 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 affordability.” This comment from billionaire Trump—often mingles with other ultra-rich individuals—demonstrated utter contempt for millions of Americans who struggle when visiting supermarkets. Essentially, he dismissed their struggles as trivial, suggesting they were mistaken about actual costs.

His assertion that everything was “way down” proved highly misleading and dishonest. How could all costs be falling when his cherished tariffs were pushing up costs? Official statistics show the cost of bananas increased nearly 7% over the past year, beef prices went up almost 15%, and the cost of coffee jumped by nearly 19%—partly because of punitive tariffs applied to Brazilian products. Between January and September, costs increased in the majority of main grocery groups tracked by the government’s price index, such as meats, poultry, and fish (up 4.5%), non-alcoholic beverages (increasing nearly 3%), and fruits and vegetables (up 1.3%).

Contradictions and Inaccuracies in Economic Statements

In spite of these numbers, the president continues to push his misleading narrative about affordability. Since election day, he has claimed there is “virtually no inflation,” declared “prices are way down,” and asserted “it is far less expensive under Trump than it was under his predecessor.” These statements ignore the reality that prices overall have clearly increased after the previous administration. Currently, price growth is running at a 3% annual rate, that’s 50% higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent. In another falsehood, he boasted that fuel costs had dropped to around two dollars, even though government figures show they are $3.19.

Faced with actual conditions and lower approval ratings, advisers apparently cautioned that his “prices are down” message portrayed him as disconnected from ordinary people. Many citizens are angry about rising costs following promises of reductions. As a result, advisers suggested one quick fix: reduce certain import taxes. The logical move clashed with Trump’s absurd assertion that new tariffs would not increase costs for US consumers.

Suggested Solutions and Their Possible Effects

With some tariffs being rolled back on coffee, beef, tomatoes, and bananas, Trump will likely claim that he has cut prices once those foods start declining in price. This would be similar to a firestarter taking credit for extinguishing a blaze that he ignited. On another occasion, while speaking fast-food leaders, he stated that “this is the golden age of America” and assured the audience that “prices are coming down and all of that stuff.” Such statements are easy for a wealthy individual to make, but they ring hollow to countless households facing hardships—particularly when millions face cuts to nutrition assistance or skyrocketing health premiums.

Per a recent poll from October, 74% of Americans think the state of the economy are fair or poor, while only 26% consider them positive. A separate survey showed that a majority of citizens say Trump’s policies have “made the economy worse” in the country.

Financial Reality and Suggested Steps

The treasury secretary, Trump’s top economic official, lately contradicted assertions of a golden age. He noted that far from booming, certain sectors of the American economy “have contracted.” The manufacturing sector—which Trump vowed to save—seems to have shrunk for eight months in a row and shed approximately tens of thousands of positions since January. Citing these challenges, Bessent called on the central bank to cut interest rates—an action that could ease financial pressure.

Reacting to widespread concern about living costs, Trump suggested a cash handout of “a dividend of at least $2,000 a person” excluding “high income people.” To numerous struggling Americans, it seems like manna from heaven, but the prospects are dim that Congress—concerned about large shortfalls—will approve the proposal. This idea would likely raise government expenditure, push up borrowing costs, and potentially drive prices higher by putting more money into consumers’ pockets.

Another supposed fix for affordability involved introducing half-century home loans, based on the idea that they could reduce monthly mortgage payments. However, the truth is that such lengthy loans would do little to reduce installments—often cutting them by just $100 or $200 each month. The downside is that these loans could more than double the overall cost homeowners pay and slow their accumulation of equity.

Blaming the Past Government and Financial Prospects

In their cost-cutting effort, Trump and his team have once more blamed Biden for economic problems, such as increasing costs. Spokespeople claimed they “inherited a disaster from Joe Biden” and were “addressing the prior administration’s price hikes.” This is unfounded and inaccurate claims. In reality, the former president handed over a robust economic situation, with low price growth, solid expansion, and minimal joblessness. But, Trump’s policies—particularly import taxes—have created an economic mess, pushing up prices and slowing GDP growth.

According to an economist, chief economist at a research firm, numerous regions are already in recession, with their conditions worsened by Trump’s tariffs. He fears that if large states such as major economies tumble into recession, the US could slide into a widespread recession. In downturns, consumers generally possess less money to spend, and inflation usually declines. Sadly, given the highly-touted cost initiative probably ineffective to hold down prices, his primary method for improving living standards might end up triggering an economic contraction—a scenario that struggling Americans really can’t afford.