President Trump calls affordability ‘the work of Democratic fraudsters’
President Donald Trump called affordability a “Democrat scam” and “the work of con artists.”
Vice President J.D. Vance urged Americans to be patient as food and housing costs remain high nearly a year into the Trump administration and Democrats voice concerns about affordability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In a speech at the Uihlein warehouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Vance said the Trump administration is “making progress” in lowering costs for Americans, including food and energy prices. He noted that while rental prices are “still too high,” costs have come down in recent months.
Vance blamed the Biden administration for the affordability crisis Americans are facing.
The vice president argued that the Trump administration has been trying to repay Americans for the money they lost under the previous administration due to soaring food and rent prices, but it will take time to find relief.
“The average American family is $1,000 better off than they were 11 months ago. Now imagine the Biden administration takes $3,000 out of their pockets. Of course they’re still struggling to get by,” Vance said. “Rome wasn’t built in a day…We believe that if we continue to make the right decisions and continue to invest in the United States of America, we will enable Americans to live a prosperous life in our homeland.”
Vance’s comments come after President Trump earlier this month downplayed affordability concerns that have tipped Democrats toward victory in several off-year elections.
Recent polls have shown that Americans are not seeing an improvement in the economy and are making significant sacrifices to save money.
A poll by the progressive think tank Century Foundation found that two-thirds of respondents said they were buying less expensive groceries or buying fewer groceries, and half said they were dipping into savings to cover basic expenses. One third said they had skipped a meal. Nearly three in 10 voters surveyed said they had refrained from seeking medical care in the past year because of cost.
With Democrats leaning into Americans’ concerns about affordability, Vance told reporters after his speech in Allentown that he was “not worried about politics” or that it could be a liability for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
“Obviously, they’re going to be the ones making the final decisions, but I’m very confident that if we keep wages high, keep energy prices low, and continue to chip away at the affordability crisis created by President Joe Biden’s administration, yes, I believe the American people will reward us,” Vance said.
