By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Grocery prices are increasing nearly twice as quickly as under the previous administration, despite President Trump repeatedly claiming that they are “way down”. Government statistics, in fact, show a significant increase in food inflation since he initiated a trade war, primarily due to tariffs paid by American importers. Experts point out that unlike some of his other claims, the cost of groceries directly impacts nearly every American, making his statements particularly misleading. Trump has deflected questions about the issue, even making incorrect assertions about international trade and the US economy during interactions with reporters.
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Trump Finally Meets A Problem His Lies Cannot Overcome: Rising Grocery Prices, because it is something Americans experience on a regular basis. He keeps insisting that prices are “way down,” but the reality is glaringly obvious at the supermarket. Food inflation is running nearly twice the rate it was during the last year of the Biden administration, and Americans are not, in fact, fooled.
This is a problem for Trump because, unlike many political issues, grocery prices are a tangible, undeniable reality. People go to the store, they see the prices, they pay the prices. It’s not abstract; it’s right there in their shopping carts. It doesn’t matter how many times he says things are different; the evidence is right in front of everyone’s eyes. It’s much harder to convince people of a lie when their own lived experience contradicts it.
Many people are already aware of this. It’s difficult to spin a narrative when individuals are making choices about what they can and cannot afford. The rising costs of basic items directly impact their budgets and their quality of life. Even among his supporters, there is a limit to how much cognitive dissonance people can withstand, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as feeding their families.
The argument that “it isn’t here where I live, maybe where he is, prices are actually down, so cool, I love him and he loves me” is a flawed one. Grocery prices are a nationwide issue. The idea that everything is fine is hard to reconcile when there’s an actual, practical effect on daily life. When families have to choose between buying generic brands or skipping meals, it’s difficult to maintain the illusion of prosperity.
Of course, the die-hard MAGA faithful are a different story. Some are shielded from this reality, consuming only the “news” that reinforces their pre-existing beliefs. This creates a bubble where dissenting opinions are filtered out. But even within this group, there are cracks appearing. When the wife handles the finances and sees the actual price changes, the truth is harder to deny.
One of the defining characteristics of the MAGA movement is the ability to listen to Trump without critical thinking. But even with that, reality has a way of intruding. The strategy is often to deflect blame rather than deny reality. But for this to work, there must also be an alternative narrative to take the place of the truth.
The blame game will likely involve pointing fingers at Biden or immigrants, following a playbook of deflection and misdirection. There will be claims about the cost of IDs needed to buy groceries, or perhaps some other conspiracy theory to explain the prices. The constant repetition of the lie is how Trump hopes to get people to believe it. But it may not work this time.
Every administration faces the need to make sure the economy works for the majority. People don’t have the luxury of waiting years to see if policies will pay off. Economic issues are often the deciding factor in elections. Trump himself won and lost based on the state of the economy. His pattern of repeating lies is being tested.
The average person knows how much things cost. The price tag is visible, and the cashier tells you the total. Trump’s “solutions” are usually limited to denying the problem or blaming someone else. He’s picked the wrong hill to die on here because people are acutely aware of the issue.
Even Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who does her own grocery shopping, can’t deny that prices are up. Trump’s reliance on sycophants who will tell him what he wants to hear is catching up to him. He admitted that discussing groceries during his campaign worked in his favor. Now, the added expenses include the cost of a cashier checking everyone’s ID, which is simply absurd.
The economic reality is that the wealthy are doing better than ever. The focus has always been to protect and advance the interests of the wealthiest. But they do not care about the working class. Their goal is only to further their own wealth. It is hard to change the economic system when this is the goal.
The claim that these are the essentials and that the “best” food and wine has gone down in price is farcical and ignores the actual experiences of the majority of Americans. Complaining is an option because many may be facing a decrease in the quality of life or, in some cases, the inability to purchase essential items.
Inflation isn’t just about the value of money going down; it affects the cost of everything. The increase in prices can’t be covered by a lie. There will be attempts at blame. But the evidence of rising prices is available for all. It’s harder to fool people when they’re directly experiencing the effects.
There’s a lot of denial, and the truth will out at the ballot box. MAGA supporters who are shielded will still be in denial and, unfortunately, the rest of us as well. The lack of affordability will impact the holiday season, with less food on plates and fewer gifts under the tree. This affects many, and it doesn’t matter what your politics are.