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Trump Bristles At Question About Skyrocketing Prices — Then Refuses To Answer

All swagger until the questions start

572
572 points

A $400,000 home loan costs roughly $376 more a month than it did in February. When a reporter asked Donald Trump what he could do about it, he gave no answer and called on someone else.

It happened Wednesday on the South Lawn, as Trump made his way toward Marine One. The reporter noted that rates had hit a three-year high, then asked: “Is there anything you can do on home prices?” Trump acknowledged the question and pointed at the next person in line.

Freddie Mac made it harder to dodge a day later. The average 30-year fixed rate reached 7.40% on Thursday, up from 7.28% the week before and 6.30% a year ago. That’s the highest reading since November 16, 2023. In late February, that same rate had briefly dipped to 5.98%, the lowest in more than three years. The 1.42-point climb since then is where the $376 comes from. A borrower with strong credit may land below the average, and plenty of others will land above it.

Mortgage rates tend to follow the 10-year Treasury yield, which sat at 5.29% midday Thursday. Before the war with Iran began, it was 3.97%.

Freddie Mac’s chief economist, Sam Khater, has pointed to the wider economy as rates climb. When the 30-year rate crossed 7% two weeks ago, he said the housing market “remains supported by a solid labor market,” according to Scotsman Guide.

The White House blames the war.

Spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump has “always been clear about short-term disruptions from Operation Epic Fury,” and officials expect rates to fall quickly once the crisis is resolved. That forecast has a shaky record. In a primetime address earlier this year, Trump warned of escalating action in the “next two to three weeks” and offered no concrete exit strategy. Rates eased after a June ceasefire, then renewed fighting erased those gains by July.

It’s a rough reversal for a president with a housing plan.

In January he signed an order sending $200 billion in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cash toward mortgage-backed securities, and rates fell below 6% by March. The war undid that, and a pointed finger on the South Lawn didn’t help.

After snapping at CBS and CNN reporters earlier in the week, Trump was hailed by spokeswoman Olivia Wales as “the most accessible President in American history.” Critics had a different take, joking that he simply walks away from tough questions.

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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