Trump Shocks With Consumer Prices

President Trump dismissed concerns about rising consumer prices during a Sunday interview, calling them insignificant compared to the benefit of cheaper gas under his leadership. When asked about the impact of his trade tariffs on items like strollers, tires, and clothing, he brushed it off as minor.

Speaking with NBC’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” Trump interrupted when she brought up the price increases tied to his tariffs. “Excuse me, that’s peanuts compared to energy,” he said. “Energy is 60 percent of the costs. Energy is the big ”

Welker pushed back, reminding Trump of his campaign promise to reduce costs for Americans from day one. But Trump doubled down, saying, “I don’t know, when you say, ‘Strollers are going up,’ what kind of a thing I’m saying gasoline is going down. Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a stroller.”

According to AAA data, gas prices had fallen by about 50 cents per gallon compared to the same time last year by the end of Trump’s first 100 days back in office. But that silver lining hasn’t masked broader economic anxiety.

Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda has caused disruptions in global markets, strained relationships with traditional U.S. allies like Canada and the European Union, and sparked fear about rising costs and product shortages. Tariffs on Chinese imports have reached as high as 145 percent, leading some economists to warn about empty shelves and continued inflation across various sectors.

Throughout the interview, Trump continued to claim credit for the economy’s strong points while blaming his predecessor for any lingering issues. “I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy, because he’s done a terrible job,” he said. “He did a terrible job on everything.”

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent penned an opinion article for The Wall Street Journal defending the administration’s economic approach. He framed it as a necessary realignment designed to prioritize working families and reestablish the strength of American industry.

“In the first 100 days of his presidency, we have laid the groundwork to rebalance global trade, restore America’s industrial base, and build an economy that allows Wall Street and Main Street to rise together,” Bessent wrote. “To understand the urgency of this economic rebalancing, it’s critical to understand why it is necessary in the first place.”