The White House has been vacillating on the affordability issue since stubbornly high prices fueled sweeping Republican electoral losses earlier this month and Democrats sense a winning theme for the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump and top aides reacted to the Nov. 4 results by largely blaming GOP candidates for talking too little about the cost of everything, from food to coffee to electricity to shelter and travel. But last week, the mercurial president broke with himself, calling the affordability issue a “con job” concocted by Democrats while also doubling down on his claim that prices are “way down.”
His top White House economic advisers say a range of options — for both paring prices and selling Americans on Trump’s economic plans and stewardship — have been under discussion in the West Wing. But, so far, officials have been unable to clearly explain the president’s next steps and new message.
