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Throughout the previous race for the White House, Donald Trump wooed voters with promises to lower prices immediately upon taking office. However, once he assumed office, there was minimal focus to affordability issues. This shifted after price-fatigued voters delivered a rebuke at the ballot box. Within days, his team launched a slapdash campaign to tackle affordability. Unfortunately, this initiative is a disorganized endeavor—filled with absurdity, contradictions, magical thinking, scapegoating, and misleading statements.

Out-of-Touch Assertions and Supermarket Reality

Just two days post-election, Trump kicked off his affordability drive 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.” These words from the wealthy leader—who frequently associates with fellow billionaires—demonstrated utter contempt for millions of Americans who struggle when visiting supermarkets. Essentially, he dismissed their struggles as unimportant, implying they were mistaken about price levels.

This statement about declining prices proved absurdly obtuse and dishonest. How could every price be falling when the taxes he imposed were increasing costs? Official statistics indicate banana prices increased 6.9% over the past year, beef prices went up almost 15%, and the cost of coffee jumped 18.9%—in part due to punitive tariffs on Brazil’s coffee and beef. Between January and September, costs increased in five of the six main grocery groups monitored by the government’s price index, such as animal proteins (up 4.5%), drinks (up 2.8%), and fruits and vegetables (rising slightly).

Inconsistencies and Inaccuracies in Financial Statements

In spite of these numbers, the president continues to push his misleading narrative about lower costs. Since election day, he has stated there is “virtually no inflation,” declared “prices are way down,” and argued “living is cheaper under Trump than it was under his predecessor.” These statements ignore the fact that general costs have clearly increased after the previous administration. Currently, price growth is at a 3 percent per year, which is 50% higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. In another falsehood, he boasted that fuel costs had fallen to around two dollars, even though government figures indicate they average $3.19.

Faced with actual conditions and lower approval ratings, advisers evidently warned that his “costs are falling” rhetoric made him sound dangerously out of touch from ordinary people. Many citizens are angry about prices continuing to climb after promises of decreases. In response, advisers suggested one quick fix: roll back certain import taxes. The logical move clashed with the president’s unrealistic claim that additional taxes would not increase costs for US consumers.

Suggested Fixes and Their Possible Effects

As some tariffs reduced on coffee, beef, tomatoes, and bananas, the administration will likely claim that he has cut prices once these products begin to fall in price. This would be like an arsonist boasting for putting out a blaze that he had started. In another instance, while speaking fast-food leaders, he stated that “we are in 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 billionaire to make, but seem insincere to millions of Americans facing hardships—particularly when millions risk cuts to nutrition assistance or rising insurance costs.

Per a recent poll from October, three-quarters of respondents think economic conditions are mediocre or bad, while only 26% consider them positive. A separate survey showed that 61% of Americans say Trump’s policies have “worsened economic conditions” in the country.

Economic Reality and Proposed Steps

Scott Bessent, the president’s chief financial officer, recently contradicted assertions of a golden age. He noted that instead of thriving, some parts of the American economy “are in recession.” 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 this year. Pointing to this weakness, the secretary urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates—an action that could ease financial pressure.

In response to public dismay about affordability, the president proposed a cash handout of “a payout of at least $2,000 a person” excluding “high income people.” To numerous struggling Americans, this sounds like manna from heaven, but it is unlikely that Congress—already alarmed about large shortfalls—will enact such a plan. The scheme would likely raise government expenditure, increase interest rates, and possibly drive prices higher by putting more money into consumers’ pockets.

A further proposed solution for cost issues involved creating 50-year mortgages, with the notion that this would lower housing costs. But, reality is that 50-year mortgages have minimal impact to lower monthly payments—often reducing them by just $100 or $200 each month. The drawback is that these mortgages could more than double the overall cost homeowners pay and hinder their accumulation of equity.

Blaming the Previous Administration and Economic Outlook

In their cost-cutting effort, the administration have once more blamed Biden for financial challenges, including rising prices. Officials stated they “faced a mess from Joe Biden” and were “addressing Biden’s inflation.” This is absurd and inaccurate claims. In reality, Biden handed over a strong economy, with low price growth, economic growth strong, and minimal joblessness. But, the current administration’s actions—especially import taxes—have created an economic mess, driving costs higher and reducing economic output.

Per an economist, lead analyst at a research firm, 22 states are experiencing economic decline, with their conditions worsened by Trump’s tariffs. Zandi fears that if large states like major economies tumble into recession, the US could face a broad economic slump. In downturns, people generally possess reduced funds to spend, and inflation often falls. Sadly, with the highly-touted cost initiative likely to do little to control costs, his most effective “tool” for improving living standards might prove to be pushing the nation into recession—a scenario that hard-pressed households cannot handle.