Trump Calls 'Affordability' a Fake Word as 4.2% Inflation Fuels 2026 Midterm Fight
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 17
Trump Calls 'Affordability' a Fake Word as 4.2% Inflation Fuels 2026 Midterm Fight
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 17
Summary
Trump used the G7 summit in France to dismiss “affordability” as a Democratic invention, arguing he inherited elevated prices when he returned to office in January 2025.
May consumer prices rose 4.2% from a year earlier—the fastest pace since April 2023—after inflation accelerated during the Iran war that began on Feb. 28.
Democrats have tied Trump to higher costs for housing, groceries, energy, health care and child care, while Schumer said the party would center its message on affordability.
Polls show why the clash matters: about 3 in 10 Americans named living costs their top family financial problem in April, and more than half said their finances were worsening.
Trump argued the economy has held up better than feared, noting oil stayed below $80 rather than hitting $200 and the Dow topped 52,000 on June 16.