- Trump dismisses widespread American financial hardship as a Democratic "con job" and calls polls reporting anxiety "fake."
- Data and polls contradict him: rising costs, tariffs-linked inflation, and voter concern undermines his "greatest economy" claim.
In a fiery interview on Fox News, President Donald Trump—a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $6.6 billion—downplayed the economic hardships facing millions of Americans, calling reports of financial anxiety a Democratic “con job” and dismissing polls as outright “fake.”
The remarks came during Monday’s episode of The Ingraham Angle, where host Laura Ingraham pressed Trump on why so many voters still feel squeezed by rising costs for food, gas, and everyday essentials.
Instead of addressing those concerns head-on, Trump insisted the economy is booming under his watch.
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“More than anything else, it’s a con job by the Democrats,” Trump told Ingraham. “They put out something, say, ‘Today costs are up.’ They feed it to the anchors at ABC, CBS and NBC and CNN.
It’s such a rigged system. So are you ready? Costs are way down. Gasoline is going to be hitting $2 pretty soon, or around $2. Gasoline is at 2.70 now, and it was at 4.50 under Biden, under Sleepy Joe.”
But that gas price claim doesn’t hold up—the national average is actually a little over $3, according to AAA data cited in the interview.
Trump is Convinced Americans Have the Best Economy Ever
Ingraham tried again later, asking why polls show widespread anxiety. “I don’t know that they are saying that. I think polls are fake,” Trump shot back.
“We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We will have over $20 trillion come into our economy. And it’s largely because of my election, but it’s also largely because of tariffs.”
Those tariffs? They’re at the heart of the backlash. Trump’s aggressive trade policies have jacked up costs for consumers, contributing to stubborn inflation and even hurting Republican chances in last week’s elections.
What the Polls Actually Say—and Why They Matter
Recent surveys paint a grim picture that contradicts Trump’s rosy view:
- A November 3 CBS/YouGov poll found 64% of Americans expect prices to keep climbing, with 62% disapproving of Trump’s economic handling. thedailybeast.com
- The same day, a CNN/SSRS poll showed 72% rating the economy as “somewhat” or “very” poor, and 61% saying Trump’s policies have worsened things. thedailybeast.com
These numbers aren’t isolated. Democrats hammered home affordability in recent races, flipping seats by focusing on grocery bills, energy costs, and job worries—issues that helped Trump win in 2024 but are now eroding his support.
Trump himself has scrambled to pivot, ramping up talk of “affordability” with promises of tax breaks and lower inflation. He’s even boasted about cheaper Thanksgiving dinners (citing Walmart data) and claimed Democratic attacks on the issue are “DEAD.”
Yet critics point out the irony: Trump’s tariffs are a big reason prices haven’t budged much, and forecasts warn of more pain ahead if he doubles down.
From Campaign Promises to Reality Check
Remember 2024? Trump swept in promising to slash food prices “immediately” and deliver an economic golden age.
Now, with layoffs ticking up, SNAP benefits in limbo during a government shutdown, and electricity bills emerging as a new headache, voters aren’t buying the hype.
At a recent business forum in Miami, Trump claimed “a lot of people don’t see” the “greatest economy right now,” urging supporters to tout stock market gains instead of addressing grocery carts.
He’s floated wild ideas like 50-year mortgages and attacked Fed Chair Jerome Powell, but when Ingraham brought up real voter anxiety, Trump veered into rants about Kamala Harris’ campaign.
Tariffs on Trial—and Billions at Stake
Adding fuel to the fire: The Supreme Court is reviewing whether Trump overstepped with his emergency tariffs. A ruling against him could force billions in refunds, blowing a hole in his revenue claims.
White House insiders say Trump gets daily briefings on tariffs, and he’s planning more travel to sell his message.
But as one liberal economist put it, “He’s in real trouble and I think it’s bigger than just cost of living.”
The Disconnect: Billionaire vs. Everyday Americans
Trump’s net worth puts him in a world far removed from food banks in places like Springfield, Mass., where people are lining up amid fears over federal aid cuts.
Online, the interview sparked immediate outrage, with users on social media calling out the president’s tone-deafness.
As Trump heads into the holidays touting lower turkey prices, millions are wondering: If the economy is so great, why does it still hurt to fill the tank or stock the fridge?
This clash highlights a growing rift—Trump’s team insists better messaging will fix perceptions, but with inflation outlook worsening and elections exposing vulnerabilities, the president’s dismissal of “money worries” might come back to haunt him.
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