Trump's spin on the economy is not convincing Americans

Rejecting inflation will alienate the people who are feeling its pain

- NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON

American President Donald Trump is taking a page from former President Joe Biden when it comes to the economy: trying to convince Americans that their lived experiences of higher prices aren't real. It's a head-in-the-sand strategy that doomed Biden and the Democratic Party in 2024. It didn't work for Biden, and it isn't working for Trump.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, 62% of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, which has centred on tariffs. That figure is up from 53% in February. Some 71% of respondents said they are paying more for groceries this year than they were last year. And almost 60% said they are paying more for utilities.

Yet, here is Trump this week: "Our energy costs are way down. Our groceries are way down. Everything is way down. And the press doesn't report it... When you look at a 25% reduction in cost for Thanksgiving between Biden and me, meaning this administration, that is a tremendous number... So I don't want to hear about the affordability because right now we are much less." He repeated the Thanksgiving claim on Friday.