Trump argues Democrats’ ‘affordability’ issue is ‘DEAD’ as inflation holds steady

President Trump argued Thursday that prices on “everything” were lower on his watch despite inflation rates holding steady at 3 percent since he took office in January.

Trump used Democrats’ Election Day wins after they messaged heavily on affordability — the same issue his election victory last year is pegged to — to argue the issue is “dead” for the Democrats.

In a Truth Social post, the president cited the cost of Walmart’s annual holiday meal, which, according to the retailer’s website, serves 10 people for under $4 per person this year. Last year, Walmart’s holiday meal served eight people for less than $7 per person, according to its website.

“2025 Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25% lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart,” the president wrote. “My cost are lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats “affordability” issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!” 

Trump’s post marks his latest effort to push back on Democrats’ message on affordability, which the party’s candidates largely won on in Tuesday’s off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City. The results mark a shift after the president and Republicans won big on the issue during last year’s presidential election. 

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump claimed prices had already come down during his administration.

“I think they’re coming down. I think they’re down already,” Trump told Fox News’s Bret Baier in an interview Wednesday. “I think the biggest problem is Republicans don’t talk about it. They don’t talk about the word ‘affordability,’ and Democrats lie about it.” 

But Trump’s sentiments don’t reflect that in September, the consumer price index rose 0.3 percent, and 3 percent over the 12-month span ending in September, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means prices continue to rise at similar rates as they did under the Biden administration.