President Donald Trump has been insisting for months that grocery prices are coming down and inflation is no longer a problem.
On Tuesday night, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins challenged that claim head-on, pointing out that reality might be a bit different.
Trump has repeatedly told Americans that rising costs are overblown, calling anyone who says otherwise part of a “con job.”
Collins was not buying it. She came prepared, and her segment on The Source was packed with receipts — the video kind, not the grocery store kind.
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She began her show with a quick update about the long government shutdown, now in its 42nd day. “Things are actually happening here on Capitol Hill,” she said, noting that lawmakers were finally working to end the standoff. Then she turned to what she called the bigger issue for millions of families — the cost of food.
“That hasn’t stopped the White House’s efforts and the President’s efforts to stop full food assistance benefits from going out,” Collins said. She explained that the Supreme Court had just given the administration more time to withhold food aid from about 40 million Americans.
Then she went in for the point. “But as we talk about more families struggling to afford the cost of dinner,” she said, “the President, for months, has been insisting that grocery prices are actually coming down.”
That was her cue to roll the tape.
“Prices are way down. Everything’s way down,” Trump said in one clip.
“Our groceries are down. Our energy prices are down.”
“We have no inflation. Prices are down on just about everything.”
“Prices are down and inflation is dead.”
Collins paused. “Now, even as the President has been declaring ‘Mission Accomplished’ when it comes to bringing grocery prices down, notice the difference between the absolutes that you heard him offer there, and what he’s been saying more recently.”
Next came the follow-up clips — this time from Trump’s own team trying to explain his statements.
“Under my leadership, energy costs are down,” Trump said.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stepped in to clarify: “There are things that the federal government can control. Local electricity prices are not one of them. A lot of the problem lies with the state government.”
Trump again: “Now we don’t have inflation.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added, “Inflation has remained low and steady, averaging just 2.5 percent.”
And Kevin Hassett from the National Economic Council tried to smooth it over. “Inflation is down, is what he means.”
Collins pointed out that Trump knows this issue well. “Of all people, President Trump knows how personal and powerful this issue can be for people,” she said. Then came more rally clips.
“From the day I take the oath of office, we will rapidly drive prices down,” Trump had promised.
“We’re going to get those prices down. We’re going to get them down quickly.”
“I will promise you, we’re going to end inflation very quickly.”
Now, almost a year into his term, many Americans still say prices are biting. Voters have made that clear in several states, and Trump’s answer to that was simple.
“More than anything else, it’s a con job by the Democrats,” he said. “We just lost an election, they said, based on affordability. It’s a con job by the Democrats.”
Collins wrapped up without adding much commentary. She didn’t need to. The clips did all the talking.
Featured image via X screengrab
