Trump cites cheap groceries, gas as he emphasizes Dem affordability message

President Donald Trump was in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night touting the economic success of his administration after Democrats swept a series of polls in 2025 while campaigning on platforms primarily focused on “affordability.”

“They created high prices, and we’re bringing them down,” Trump told the crowd at a casino resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, to whom he spoke for nearly two hours. “Low prices, big paychecks – you’re getting low prices, big paychecks, we’ve got inflation – we’re crushing it – and you’re getting very high salaries. The only thing that’s really going big – it’s called the stock market and your 401ks.”

Affordability has become a flashpoint in the midterms, with Republicans now fine-tuning their messaging on the economy after Democrats won election in 2025 on a platform focused on reducing costs. Before Tuesday night’s address in Pennsylvania, Trump told Politico in an interview that he would give his economy an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” grade, but a November Fox News national poll found that nearly 76% of voters reported they viewed the economy negatively, up from 67% who said the same in July, and more than 70% who said the same at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term.

Trump says prices are ‘going down’, blames Biden – but voters say they’re still being squeezed

President Donald Trump looks at the crowd upon his arrival to deliver remarks on the economy at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Real wages were one of several statistics Trump shared with voters on Tuesday to try to prove how much better the economy is doing under him than under Biden. According to Trump, real wages have declined by $3,000 under Biden, while under Trump’s second administration, the president said, typical factory workers have seen their real wages increase by $1,300, construction workers by more than $1,800 and miners by $3,300. Trump said that, under Biden, real wages for construction workers have fallen by $3,500.

To put things in perspective for the audience, Trump also spoke on the price of everyday items, and shared charts with the audience showing how prices had varied over the years of his predecessor’s tenure. Citing a Walmart report, Trump said the cost of a full Thanksgiving meal, trimmings, turkey and all, under his administration is 25% cheaper than under Biden. The price of Thanksgiving turkeys in particular has also dropped 33%, he said.

Trump said egg prices “have fallen like a rock” under his second term, with their price falling 80% since March.

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Trump also said, “One of the most important ways to defeat inflation is to boost American energy, including oil, gas and clean, beautiful coal.” Citing data, he said that gas prices in 22 different states today are lower than in the last seven years. Trump said gas is as low as $1.99 a gallon in three of them.

President Donald Trump talked about falling prices of everyday items during his address in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images, iStock)

Trump cited low mortgage rates under his administration, $18 trillion of new private investment compared to less than $1 trillion under Biden’s, and a hot stock market as examples of how his economy is performing well.

Trump criticized Democrats on the economy Tuesday night, saying, “I can’t call affordability a hoax because I believe prices were too high. I can’t call it a hoax because they’ll misinterpret it. But they use the word affordability and that’s their only word.” “They say, ‘affordability’ and everyone says, ‘Oh, that must mean Trump’s prices are higher.’ “No, our prices are well below the highest prices in the history of our country.”

Trump said during his speech Tuesday night that Democrats talking about affordability are “like Bonnie and Clyde preaching about public safety.”

Then-President Joe Biden speaks to guests at electrical equipment maker Ingeteam Inc. in Milwaukee on August 15, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Meanwhile, amid a dig at Democrats over his “austerity” message, Trump said he does not have to “sell” his administration’s policies to anyone, because they are the “right policy”.

“We don’t have to sell out women’s sports to men. We don’t have to sell out everyone to transgender. We don’t have to sell out open borders where the whole world is allowed to come into our country from prisons and everywhere else,” Trump told the crowd. “That’s our message. They gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history.” And we’re telling you we’re bringing those prices down rapidly.”