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During last year's race for the White House, the former president wooed the electorate with pledges to reduce costs immediately upon taking office. However, once his inauguration, he seemed to pay minimal attention to the cost of living. All that changed following price-fatigued voters expressed dissatisfaction at the ballot box. Shortly thereafter, his team launched a slapdash effort to address affordability. Unfortunately, the drive is a hot mess—filled with illogical claims, inconsistencies, unrealistic expectations, scapegoating, and misleading statements.

Detached Claims and Grocery Store Reality

Just two days post-election, the president kicked off his affordability drive with a poorly received remark: “Food prices are way down. All items is way down… So I don’t want to hear about affordability.” These words from billionaire Trump—who frequently mingles with fellow billionaires—revealed utter contempt for millions of Americans facing difficulties every time they go supermarkets. Essentially, he dismissed their concerns as trivial, implying they were mistaken about price levels.

This statement about declining prices was absurdly obtuse and dishonest. In what way could every price be falling when the taxes he imposed were increasing costs? Official statistics indicate the cost of bananas rose nearly 7% in the last twelve months, the price of beef climbed 14.7%, and coffee prices jumped 18.9%—partly due to import taxes on Brazil’s coffee and beef. In the first three quarters, prices rose in five of the six food categories monitored by the government’s price index, including meats, poultry, and fish (up 4.5%), drinks (increasing nearly 3%), and fruits and vegetables (up 1.3%).

Contradictions and Falsehoods in Economic Claims

In spite of these numbers, the president continues to push his big lie about affordability. Since election day, he has claimed there is “virtually no inflation,” declared “costs have fallen significantly,” and asserted “it is far less expensive under Trump than it was under sleepy Joe Biden.” Such remarks ignore the fact that general costs have unarguably risen since Biden left office. Currently, inflation is running at a 3% annual rate, which is 50% higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent. In another falsehood, Trump boasted that gas prices had fallen to nearly $2 a gallon, despite official data indicate they average $3.19.

Confronted by reality and declining opinion polls, advisers evidently warned that his “costs are falling” rhetoric made him sound dangerously out of touch from typical Americans. Many voters are angry about prices continuing to climb after promises of reductions. As a result, aides suggested a simple solution: reduce certain import taxes. The logical move contradicted Trump’s absurd assertion that additional taxes wouldn’t raise prices for US consumers.

Proposed Solutions and Their Possible Effects

As certain taxes reduced on coffee, beef, tomatoes, and bananas, Trump will likely announce that he has cut prices once those foods begin to fall in price. This would be like an arsonist taking credit for extinguishing a blaze that he had started. On another occasion, while speaking McDonald’s executives, he declared that “we are in the golden age of America” and told the audience that “prices are coming down and all of that stuff.” Such statements come naturally for a wealthy individual to make, but seem insincere to millions of Americans who are struggling—particularly when millions face cuts to nutrition assistance or rising insurance costs.

Per a recent poll conducted last fall, 74% of Americans think economic conditions are fair or poor, while only 26% rate them positive. A separate survey found that a majority of citizens say Trump’s policies have “worsened economic conditions” in the country.

Economic Reality and Suggested Steps

Scott Bessent, the president’s top economic official, recently disputed assertions of a golden age. He stated that far from booming, some parts of the American economy “have contracted.” Industrial production—which Trump vowed to save—appears to have contracted for eight months in a row and shed approximately tens of thousands of positions this year. Citing these challenges, Bessent called on the Federal Reserve to reduce borrowing costs—a move that could help affordability.

In response to public dismay about affordability, Trump proposed a direct payment of “a payout of at least $2,000 a person” not for “high income people.” To numerous households in need, it seems like manna from heaven, but it is unlikely that Congress—already alarmed about huge budget deficits—will approve the proposal. The scheme would likely increase federal spending, push up borrowing costs, and potentially drive prices higher by putting more money into consumers’ pockets.

Another supposed fix for affordability involved creating half-century home loans, with the notion that this would reduce monthly mortgage payments. However, the truth is that such lengthy loans have minimal impact to reduce installments—often cutting them by just $100 or $200 each month. The drawback is that these loans could significantly increase the total interest homeowners pay and slow their accumulation of equity.

Faulting the Previous Administration and Financial Prospects

As part of their affordability campaign, the administration have once more blamed the previous president for financial challenges, such as rising prices. Officials claimed they “inherited a disaster from Joe Biden” and were “cleaning up the prior administration’s price hikes.” This is absurd and untruthful allegations. In reality, the former president left a robust economic situation, with low price growth, economic growth strong, and minimal joblessness. However, the current administration’s actions—especially import taxes—have resulted in an economic mess, driving costs higher and slowing GDP growth.

According to an economist, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, 22 states are experiencing economic decline, with their economies damaged by Trump’s tariffs. He worries that if key regions such as California and New York tumble into recession, the nation could slide into a broad economic slump. In downturns, consumers generally possess less money to spend, and inflation often falls. Sadly, given the highly-touted affordability campaign probably ineffective to hold down prices, his most effective “tool” for improving living standards might end up pushing the nation into recession—something that hard-pressed households really can’t afford.