Political Tribune

Donald Trump, Economy, Opinion, Politics

Karoline Leavitt Faces Intense Backlash For Blaming Joe Biden Over Rising Costs

Own it already, Karoline

572
572 points

Two people in the same administration can’t agree on whether the affordability crisis is even real, let alone whose fault it is.

The disagreement surfaced on Fox News‘ My View with Lara Trump when the host raised the issue. “The party that has the White House has an uphill battle for the midterms,” Lara Trump said. “When you look at the top issue among voters right now, it seems to be the cost of living. So what steps has the White House taken to address that because that’s going to be important as we head into November?”

Leavitt’s answer skipped past the current administration entirely.

“Yeah. Well, the president and the White House, we fully recognize that. And I would remind your viewers and the American people of who caused the affordability crisis in this country. It was Joe Biden and it was the Democrats in this city when they were in power. President Trump took immediate action on day one to fix that, with his overall economic formula of tax cuts, deregulation, and energy dominance. All these things that he is doing will only get better if given two more years with a Republican congress.”

The math is what makes that answer hard to take at face value. Biden left the White House on January 20, 2025, roughly 550 days before Leavitt’s interview aired.

X didn’t let that slide.

Trump himself has spent much of that same stretch arguing something closer to the opposite, insisting the whole concept is invented. “They use the word affordability — it’s a Democrat hoax. They’re the ones who drove the prices up,” he said at one event, adding: “I think affordability is the greatest con job. They look at you and they say affordability. They don’t say anything else.” He made the same case in Georgia, calling it “a word, you know, made up by the Democrats.”

Prices on the ground haven’t cooperated with either explanation. Gas, pushed up in part by the Iran war Trump started, averaged $4.11 a gallon nationally this week, months after Trump demanded on Truth Social that stations cut prices “IMMEDIATELY” to $2.50.

The Consumer Price Index did tick down slightly in June, though that dip was tied largely to ceasefire news rather than any broader shift in the economy. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from early June found 49% of the country naming cost of living as their top concern heading into the midterms.

Featured image via X  screengrab 

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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