President Donald Trump sparked immediate backlash on Thursday, November 6, 2025, when he declared he doesn’t want to hear complaints about inflation, even as Americans continue to struggle with high prices at grocery stores and gas pumps. The comment came during a White House press conference where Trump attempted to tout his economic record, claiming prices have dropped significantly under his administration.
“So I don’t want to hear about the affordability, because right now we’re much less,” Trump told reporters in the White House East Room. The president repeatedly cited a Walmart Thanksgiving dinner basket that costs 25 percent less than last year’s version as evidence of improved affordability, though fact-checkers noted this year’s meal contains fewer items than the previous year’s offering.
Trump’s remarks came as voter concern about the cost of living continues to dominate the political landscape, with the 2026 midterms approaching. The president insisted that energy costs and grocery prices have fallen dramatically under his watch, claiming gasoline prices are approaching $2 per gallon and that inflation has been virtually eliminated.
However, the actual numbers tell a different story. The national average cost of gas stands at around $3 per gallon, according to sources. Inflation rose 0.3 percent in September, with the annual rate climbing to 3 percent, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target. Average grocery prices in September were approximately 2.7 percent higher than the previous year and 1.4 percent higher than when Trump took office in January.
The disconnect between Trump’s claims and economic reality drew sharp criticism from an unexpected source: Fox News. The network, typically friendly to the president, challenged his assertions about affordability. Anchor Bret Baier used his interview access to read a message from Regina Foley, a North Carolina retiree and three-time Trump voter who expressed concern about the economy. “I don’t see the best economy right now,” Foley wrote to Baier. “Wall Street numbers do not reflect my Main Street money.”
Even Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trump’s most loyal supporters, broke ranks with the president on the issue. When asked by CNN whether she agrees with Trump’s assessment of inflation and grocery prices, Greene responded with a flat no. The Georgia Republican stated she shops for groceries herself and that prices remain high, adding that her electricity bills have increased both in Washington and at her home in Rome, Georgia.
Greene emphasized that affordability represents a five-alarm fire for Americans, particularly regarding skyrocketing health insurance premiums. She criticized her GOP colleagues for failing to work daily on addressing these concerns, calling the situation incredibly embarrassing and pathetic.
Trump’s comments also drew fire from GOP radio host Erick Erickson, who warned Republicans against dismissing voters’ lived experiences. Erickson noted on his syndicated show that grocery prices are actually increasing, and Republicans are making the same mistake Democrats made under President Joe Biden by telling Americans not to believe what they see at the grocery store.
Critics quickly seized on Trump’s affordability comment as a potential liability heading into the 2026 midterms. Multiple political observers predicted the quote would appear in Democratic campaign advertisements, drawing comparisons to Marie Antoinette’s infamous dismissal of her subjects’ hunger. Congressional candidate Fred Wellman suggested Trump and wealthy Republicans are enjoying stock market gains while offering ordinary Americans only crumbs.
The timing of Trump’s remarks proved particularly problematic, coming as his administration faces a court battle over SNAP benefits.
Trump’s insistence that Republicans simply need to talk more about their economic achievements highlights what many see as a fundamental messaging problem. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told reporters that people aren’t fooled by political spin about prices. The disconnect between the administration’s claims and voters’ daily experiences at checkout counters appears likely to remain a central issue as the 2026 congressional elections approach.
The president continued to blame Democrats and the press for what he characterized as fabricated economic concerns, calling opposition party members con artists who make up numbers. However, with voter concern about the cost of living having helped deliver Trump his second term, lingering affordability worries now threaten to cause Republicans problems in upcoming elections.
