As inflation remains a top concern for Americans, one former adviser to President Donald Trump says the GOP is the one bearing the brunt of the economic fallout. Gas prices have skyrocketed, groceries are at an all-time high, and job stability seems like a foreign concept in many fields.
“People hate paying more money for gas, and the prices have gone up a lot,” said Stephen Moore, who has previously advised the president on the economy, per PBS. “It’s frustrating because Trump’s done so many good things for the economy. But with the Iran situation, that’s really had a big effect on the economy, and Republicans may pay a high price for that.”
To combat inflation, typically, cost-of-living increases help. But many Americans are seeing stagnation in their salaries, while others are dealing with record unemployment. A report from TheGrio found that Black unemployment has fluctuated under President Donald Trump’s second administration, ranging from a low of 6 percent to a high of 8.2 percent, which is the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The costs of things are absolutely the first thing people talk about, but also it’s their pay not keeping up with the cost,” notes AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “It’s a double whammy.” Gas prices are the paramount points of discussion for voters as the midterms near.
Misty Reeder, 48, considers herself politically moderate, but growing financial pressures have pushed her to vote exclusively for Democrats in this election. As a disability payment recipient, she said the rising cost of living has made it nearly impossible. “I’ve noticed that things have been getting a lot harder,” she said. “Something’s gotta give,” Reeder said. “It’s like a dam — the pressure’s too much, and it’s going to break.”
Beti Rosales, a 47-year-old business owner from Pennsylvania, voted for Trump in 2024, hoping the administration’s proposed policies would ease inflation and rising costs, but the impact inflation has had on her family’s once-thriving Mexican restaurant has been devastating.
“The reality now is that it actually didn’t get better,” she said. “It actually got worse. The prices of everything have increased.” Now, she believes voting Democrat may be her best bet. “Maybe fresh new faces might make a difference?” she suggests.
Several factors play into the current state of inflation, including his trade wars impacting high tariffs. But Trump’s messaging about inflation seems to contradict Americans’ experience. Trump recently claimed the intensity of inflation is not as high, claiming that it is under 2 percent and “under control.” Democrats are using Americans’ frustrations against Trump.