Trump Declares Democrats' Affordability Issue 'Dead'
President Donald Trump stated that Democrats' emphasis on affordability is finished, pointing to a reported drop in Thanksgiving dinner costs. He claimed that this year's meal prices are significantly lower than last year's.
“2025 Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25% lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “My costs are lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats' ‘affordability’ issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!”
James Blair, political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign, offered a somewhat different tone during an interview with Politico. He emphasized that the President remains attentive to the economy and the cost of living but acknowledged that economic recovery takes time.
“The president is very keyed into what’s going on, and he recognizes, like anybody, that it takes time to do an economic turnaround, but all the fundamentals are there,” Blair said. “You’ll see him be very focused on prices and cost of living.”
Blair also pointed to the political success of Zohran Mamdani, noting that his campaign strongly centered on affordability issues.
“Why did Zohran Mamdani do so well last night? He relentlessly focused on affordability. People talk about communists; they can say all these things, but the fact is, he was talking about the cost of living.”
Blair added that the absence of a strong affordability message contributed to Republican Jack Ciattarelli’s defeat in the New Jersey gubernatorial race.
Author’s Summary
President Trump dismissed Democrats’ affordability narrative, touting lower Thanksgiving prices, while his campaign aide stressed the ongoing economic focus and challenges ahead.