Letter to the editor: 'I love inflation,' said Trump and nobody else

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 07.09.26

Campaigning in 2024, Trump called inflation a “nightmare” and a “disaster” when it averaged just 2.9%. Fast forward to today, with Trump’s name in gold leaf outside the Oval Office. Trump’s inflation rate for May surged to 4.2% — the highest in over three years. Incredibly, here’s what Trump said about his ballooning inflation rate: “You know what I really love? I love the inflation.”

“No, I love it,” Trump said when asked if he was concerned about the latest data. “The numbers were great.” In fact, they showed the consumer price index rising to 4.2% over the past 12 months — with an increase of 0.5% in May alone, according to the Labor Department. The CPI data also showed that energy prices spiked 3.9% in May after having risen 3.8% in April and 10.9% in March. Trump’s tariffs and Iran war slammed Americans with an inflation rate 40% higher than Biden’s 3% average during his final 20 months in office.

In 2024 Trump pledged, “Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again.” Now that inflation is much higher than when he took office, Trump claims, “Affordability is a hoax that was started by Democrats.”

Trump refuses to take Americans’ financial pain seriously. Asked if it motivated him to reach a deal with Iran, he said, “Not even a little bit. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.”

Americans spend one-third of their budgets on housing. Trump refused to sign a bipartisan bill to lower housing costs that passed the House 358-32 and the Senate 85-5. Trump called it “of minor importance” compared to an unrelated voting bill he insists Congress pass first.

No wonder the Financial Times’ June poll shows Trump’s approval rating on inflation at a record low of 18%.

Kristine Garrity

Calabash