President Donald Trump has long been known for his ability to deflect criticism and shift blame when confronted with bad news. This pattern was on full display when he recently blamed rising inflation on President Joe Biden’s policies, despite the issue being unrelated to Biden’s term.
Trump claimed that Biden’s economic policies were responsible for a 3% year-over-year increase in the Consumer Price Index, which is the fastest pace since June. However, economists and experts argue that no single leader or policy can account for monthly price swings across various goods and services.
The irony is that Trump’s own policies on tariffs, deporting immigrants, and drilling for oil are likely to have the opposite effect of reducing inflation. The reality is that inflation was falling steadily for two years before reversing course under Trump’s leadership.
Trump’s economic agenda has little buy-in from mainstream economists, and his administration has started to backtrack on some of its promises. This shift in tone may be a sign that Trump needs to find new ways to deflect blame as the economy continues to struggle with rising prices.
The issue is not just about blaming Biden or immigrants for inflation, but also about managing expectations through public rhetoric. Governments can’t control global economic forces, but they can influence how Americans perceive their economic situation. As consumers’ inflation expectations surge, it’s clear that Trump needs to focus on addressing the root causes of rising prices rather than relying on scapegoats.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/13/business/trump-inflation-economy-nightcap-eggs/index.html