President Donald Trump is encountering growing scrutiny this week over persistent economic concerns, particularly regarding the rising costs of health care, food, and housing—issues that continue to weigh heavily on millions of Americans. Despite voter emphasis on affordability, the administration appears more focused on political messaging than substantive policy solutions. n nMany citizens grappling with financial instability are growing impatient, as are Republican lawmakers who worry that Trump’s tendency to blame former President Joe Biden could jeopardize their re-election prospects in 2026. Pennsylvania Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a vulnerable incumbent, emphasized the urgency: “Every bill we bring to the floor should be focused on lowering the cost of living for people who need it most,” he said on CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday.” n nCongress is expected to vote soon on extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, a move tied to last month’s agreement to end a government shutdown. Without action, millions could face sharply higher insurance premiums or lose coverage altogether. On average, monthly payments could rise from $888 to $1,904 in the coming year, according to data from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization. n nTrump is scheduled to hold an event in Pennsylvania highlighting efforts to reduce consumer prices, amid increasing demands for tangible results on an issue central to his 2024 campaign. However, prospects for decisive legislative progress remain slim. No comprehensive plan exists to extend enhanced subsidies without overhauling the existing health care framework, and resistance remains strong among House Republicans, whose narrow majority is reluctant to support a program they have long opposed. n nThe president has expressed disdain for the term “affordability,” dismissing it as a Democratic fabrication, while maintaining that the economy is in a “golden age.” Yet, recent economic indicators tell a different story: inflation has edged up to 2.8%, contradicting claims that price increases have halted. While some administration actions—such as reducing import tariffs on coffee and bananas—suggest an acknowledgment of consumer strain, broader policies may be exacerbating financial pressures. n nDuring a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump declared, “Our country is wealthy again and secure again,” rejecting what he called a “fake narrative” around affordability. However, public sentiment paints a contrasting picture. A CNN/SSRS poll found that 61% of Americans believe Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions, while a CBS survey showed only 36% approve of his economic management—a notable decline from earlier in his presidency. n nThe disconnect between official narratives and everyday realities raises questions about whether the president and his affluent advisors fully grasp the financial struggles of average households. n nThe current debate over health care subsidies represents the most immediate front in this affordability crisis. Democrats previously used the subsidy expiration as leverage during a government shutdown, underscoring the political dilemma facing Republicans: opposing the Affordable Care Act risks harming constituents who depend on its benefits. n nSome GOP members advocate extending subsidies temporarily while crafting long-term alternatives. Others insist on reforms before agreeing to renewal, but this stance leaves many Americans vulnerable to unaffordable premiums in the interim. Utah Senator John Curtis voiced skepticism about merely prolonging a temporary measure: “Just to extend three years something that has not been working that was meant to be temporary from the beginning is not a good vote,” he said on “State of the Union.” n nWith Congress in session for only a few days before the holiday recess, the likelihood of enacting meaningful reform appears remote. Meanwhile, most individuals have already made health care decisions for the upcoming year, increasing pressure on lawmakers to at least extend current support. “If you don’t have a better plan, then get on board with ours,” Fitzpatrick urged. n nTrump has offered little concrete guidance on health care reform, failing to present a detailed roadmap despite two terms in office. While he has mentioned health savings accounts, he has not championed the idea politically. The White House recently retreated from a subsidy extension plan due to internal GOP opposition, further complicating efforts. Democrats, sensing an opportunity, are preparing to use health care costs in campaign messaging targeting swing districts. n nThe president’s attempts to demonstrate economic empathy have often fallen flat. His upcoming visit to Pennsylvania aims to show solidarity with voters frustrated by high prices, but his past remarks—such as mocking economic speeches as “intellectual” exercises—undermine these efforts. Unlike leaders who emphasize shared hardship, Trump has historically positioned himself as a symbol of success rather than a listener to economic distress. n nAlthough inflation did rise under Biden, Trump’s assertion that he has stopped it is inaccurate. Additionally, an administration perceived as favoring corporate interests and tech elites has struggled to convince working-class Americans of its commitment to their well-being. Announcements of foreign investments, while positive in appearance, often fail to deliver immediate relief. Promises of faster interest rate cuts by a future Fed chair might boost the housing market but carry the risk of reigniting inflation. n nWhile Trump maintains an upbeat narrative, some within his administration offer more cautious assessments. Vice President JD Vance, with potential presidential ambitions, has acknowledged economic hardships faced by Americans. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism on CBS, stating, “The economy has been better than we thought,” and predicting a move “on to prosperity” next year. Yet, voters have heard similar promises before, with limited tangible outcomes. n nAffordability remains a critical and real challenge, regardless of political rhetoric, and continues to haunt those in power. n— news from CNN
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Analysis: Trump’s first problem on the economy and health care: admitting he’s got a problem
President Donald Trump has a fresh chance this week to act on a priority voters continually say they want fixed — but over which he’s in denial. n nThe high and rising prices of health care, groceries and housing are a leading impediment to the lives of millions of Americans. But Trump, not unusually for presidents, seems more interested in his own political goals and obsessions. n nAmericans wracked by economic insecurity can’t wait. Nor can Republican lawmakers, who fear the president’s response — which is largely to blame his predecessor Joe Biden — will doom their reelection chances next year. n n“Every bill we bring to the floor should be focused on lowering the cost of living for people who need it most,” Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, one of the most at-risk Republicans in the 2026 midterms, told CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday.” n nThe Senate is expected to vote as soon as this week on whether to extend expiring subsidies on Affordable Care Act programs as part of last month’s deal to end the government shutdown. If Congress doesn’t act, millions will face a choice between much higher premiums or simply going without coverage. n nTrump meanwhile is expected to hold an event in Pennsylvania on making prices more affordable, as his administration faces increasing pressure to demonstrate it understands an issue that was instrumental in his election last year. n nThe prospects of decisive action this week on either score are low, however. n nA plan to address Republican qualms while extending enhanced subsidies without major reforms to Obamacare doesn’t yet exist. And even if the Senate finds a compromise, there’s little appetite among Republicans in Speaker Mike Johnson’s narrow House majority to save a law they’ve always hated. n nTrump fumes even at the word “affordability” — regarding it as a Democratic “hoax” — and is wallowing in denial about an economy that he claims has entered a “golden age” but that is making many working- and middle-class Americans feel poorer. And while Trump has taken some steps to try to lower costs — of certain prescription drugs, for example — his wider policies may be making the situation worse. n nThe administration tacitly admitted as much when it recently cut import duties on coffee, bananas and other staples to ease the pain of consumers. n n“As a nation, we have much to be grateful for this holiday season,” Trump said while lighting the National Christmas Tree last week, proclaiming big wins on the border, national security and ending wars. He also said, “Our economy is thriving, inflation has stopped, our nation is strong, and America is back bigger and better, stronger, better than ever before.” This may be one issue where the president’s talent for branding can’t get him out of a political hole. n nA CNN/SSRS poll last month found 61% of Americans said Trump’s policies have “worsened economic conditions in this country.” A recent CBS survey found only 36% approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, a onetime strength. n nThe contradiction between the president’s claims of success and the lived experience of many Americans raises the question of whether Trump, a billionaire, and his wealthy Cabinet have lost touch with what the country is feeling. n nWhy the latest Obamacare fight is so crucial n nThe fight over health care is the most urgent and visible clash in the affordability crisis. n nIf the enhanced subsidies expire at the end of the year, enrollees will face payments that many can’t afford — doubling from $888 to $1,904 next year on average, according to a new poll from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy group. n nThe stark politics of this issue for Republicans explain why Democrats picked the subsidies as the trigger for the government shutdown. They failed to achieve their goal, but highlighted the catch-22 of GOP lawmakers who want to kill Obamacare but whose success would hurt millions of their voters who rely on the program. n nSome Republicans are pushing to extend the subsidies, to give them time to draw up a more permanent replacement health care plan. Others want reform before agreeing to an extension. But then the question becomes how to help Americans who suddenly find themselves with premiums they can’t afford. n nThe conundrum was encapsulated by Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. n n“Just to extend three years something that has not been working that was meant to be temporary from the beginning is not a good vote,” Curtis told Dana Bash. n n“We need a minimum premium for people, even if it’s a couple of bucks. We know we need a cap on income,” he said. “How do we actually lower the cost, not just of insurance, but of health care? And then what do we do in the interim while we’re waiting to do that?” n nAs Curtis implied, the chances of a workable reform to Obamacare in the few days Congress is in session before the holidays seem remote. n nMeanwhile, most people have already been forced to make their health care budget decisions for next year. This is why some Republicans say a vote to extend subsidies is the only answer. “If you don’t have a better plan, then get on board with ours,” Fitzpatrick told CNN’s Manu Raju on “Inside Politics Sunday.” n nTrump has hardly helped the situation. He has repeatedly failed to lay down a blueprint or to take the complexities of the health insurance market seriously during two presidential terms. He did vaguely suggest that Congress should set up health savings accounts but has put no political muscle behind it. The White House also recently pulled back a plan to extend subsidies amid GOP opposition. Democrats are meanwhile salivating at the prospect of highlighting health care costs in campaign ads they can aim at swing-seat voters next year. n nTrump’s efforts to show he shares economic pain often backfire n nThe president is expected to head to Pennsylvania, a state he won in 2024, this week to show solidarity with voters fed up with high prices. But he seems unlikely to ease his political situation, or the economic well-being of working Americans by talking about it. He is resistant to accepting the issue’s political potency. And in the past, he’s struggled to stick to a script and mocked advisers who suggest he needs to show economic empathy. n n“They wanted to do a speech on the economy, so we are doing this as an intellectual speech. You are all intellectuals today,” he told a crowd in North Carolina in 2024. n nTrump has always been more of a cheerleader than a feel-your-pain president. Yet his transformation of the Republican Party into a populist movement was rooted in his intimate connection with many White, working-class voters who felt deserted — culturally and economically by Democrats. But Trump doesn’t seem ready to commit to any strategy that accepts his second term is not a roaring triumph. n n“Our country is wealthy again and secure again,” he said during a Cabinet meeting last week. “There’s this fake narrative that the Democrats talk about affordability. They just say the word, it doesn’t mean anything to anybody, just say, ‘affordability.’” Trump may have a point here, although next year, newly elected Democratic governors in New Jersey and Virginia must live up to campaign promises to cut prices similar to ones the president made in 2024. n nTrump is also correct to say that inflation spiked under Biden. But his claims that he has halted the inflation rate are not true. It recently ticked up to 2.8%, meaning the rate at which prices are going up is still rising. And an administration that takes pains to court corporations and the oligarchs of the tech industry is yet to convince working Americans it cares as much about them. n nTrump’s frequent announcements of billions of dollars in investment in the US by foreign companies and states do look good — even if they don’t always live up to his billing. And even if such projects come off, they’ll be a long-term proposition and won’t ease prices quickly. Trump’s pledge to appoint a new Federal Reserve chair who will cut interest rates faster could lower mortgage rates and stimulate the housing market. But it could also unleash a new inflation crisis. n nWhile Trump insists everything is great now, some subordinates, including Vice President JD Vance, who as a potential future GOP presidential candidate must not alienate voters, are more nuanced in recognizing some Americans are hurting. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a sunny prediction on Sunday. “The economy has been better than we thought,” he told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Lashing out at “embedded inflation” left over from the Biden administration, he said: “I think, next year, we’re going to move on to prosperity.” n nBut voters have heard blame games and optimism before. Successive elections have failed to deliver tangible change. Affordability is a defining issue, that does exist, no matter what Trump says, and it’s become a curse of incumbents.