Donald Trump was elected president in large part by promising to bring down higher prices that have made life harder for millions of Americans. But since being sworn in, Trump has basically ignored those promises. In fact, the past few weeks have made it clear that lowering prices for average Americans is the least of Trump’s concerns.
How do Trump’s promises to American families line up with his demonstrated priorities?
Let’s review.
“Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again,” he promised.
On day one, Trump pardoned more than 1,000 people who committed crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, releasing from prison even those who committed violent crimes against Capitol Police officers.
Not sure what that has to do with the price of eggs.
“I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one,” he promised.
On day one, Trump issued an executive order eliminating programs designed to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. Well, that is certainly not going to be lowering prices for anyone.
“Groceries, cars — everything. We’re going to get the prices down,” he promised.
Trump started what the Wall Street Journal called “The Dumbest Trade War in History” with our closest allies and trading partners. He has imposed tariffs that are virtually guaranteed to raise the cost of cell phones, televisions, laptop computers and more.
Auto industry experts say Trump tariffs could add $2,000 to the cost of a car — maybe $5,000 or more. Who’s that helping?
“Prices will come down,” Trump promised. “You just watch — they’ll come down and they’ll come down fast.”
Before Trump took power, the inflation rate dropped by more than two-thirds between 2022 and 2024. But in January, inflation went back up. The cost of eggs soared.
What is Trump doing about it? Nothing, as far as I can tell. He seems to have other priorities.
Relief for Americans struggling to feed their families will have to wait. Trump is too busy purging nonpartisan career FBI officers who fight violent crimes, terrorism and human and drug trafficking.
What is more important to Trump than helping Americans feed their families?
- Unleashing chaos, corruption and hardship on the American people by inviting the world’s richest man to infiltrate and potentially sabotage the entire financial structure of the federal government.
- Issuing decrees requiring totalitarian purges of people, programs and even language on websites that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and access — efforts to ensure that opportunity in the U.S. is shared fairly.
- Strutting like a king, declaring new names for international bodies of water and enthroning himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center.
- Or maybe he sees himself more as an emperor, given his declarations about taking over Greenland, Gaza and the Panama Canal and absorbing Canada into the U.S.
In his first interview after the election Trump referred to the price of apples, bacon and eggs, and said, “I won an election based on that. We’re going to bring those prices way down.”
But now that he has power, he is not using it to help people with their grocery bills. He is abusing it to reward his friends, punish his perceived enemies, undermine nonprofit organizations that help vulnerable families, and dismantle the federal agency that protects Americans from being cheated by big banks.
There are good reasons that two-thirds of Americans think Trump isn’t focused enough on inflation. As you reach for those pricey eggs, ask yourself, is it more likely that Trump was lying to himself or lying to all of us?
Eggs-actly.
Svante Myrick is the president of People For the American Way.
