President Trump dismissed growing public anxiety over the cost of living during a cabinet meeting Tuesday, asserting that the concept of affordability holds little meaning and labeling it a fabricated narrative pushed by political opponents. His remarks come as his administration’s standing on economic issues weakens, despite earlier efforts to position him as a leader in lowering consumer prices.
Mr. Trump criticized Democratic leaders for emphasizing affordability, calling it a “con job” meant to mislead voters. He argued that when he took office, the nation faced unprecedented inflation, rendering basic goods unaffordable for many Americans. “They just say the word,” he remarked. “It doesn’t mean anything to anybody. They just say it — affordability.”
This stance marks a shift from his comments just days prior, where he embraced the term, referring to himself as the “affordability president” and highlighting initiatives aimed at reducing household expenses. The change follows Democratic successes in recent off-year elections, where candidates focused heavily on economic pressures facing middle-class families—a messaging strategy expected to play a central role in next year’s midterm contests.
In response, the White House has begun rolling out new policy proposals centered on cost-of-living relief and adjusting its communication approach to better resonate with voters concerned about purchasing power.
— news from The New York Times
— News Original —
Trump Calls Affordability a ‘Con Job’ as His Edge on the Economy Slips
President Trump on Tuesday downplayed the cost-of-living pains being felt by Americans, declaring that affordability “doesn’t mean anything to anybody” as his political edge on the economy continues to dissipate.
In remarks during a cabinet meeting, Mr. Trump railed against Democrats who have championed the issue, which helped the party secure several off-year election victories last month and is likely to be a defining topic in the midterms next year.
After ticking off what he claimed were trillions of dollars of investments and other economic accomplishments, Mr. Trump called the issue of affordability a “fake narrative” and “con job” created by Democrats to dupe the public.
“They just say the word,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything to anybody. They just say it — affordability. I inherited the worst inflation in history. There was no affordability. Nobody could afford anything.”
The comments marked something of a turnabout for Mr. Trump, who just last weekend appeared to acknowledge the salience of the issue, calling himself the “affordability president” and promoting his efforts to bring down prices.
After Democrats won decisive victories in state and local elections last month, in part powered by a focus on prices, the Trump administration has been rolling out new affordability policies and recasting its economic messaging to match.
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