Trump Says He’s Done A “Very Bad Job” Explaining His Economic Record, But His Disastrous Economy Speaks For Itself 

Despite trying to convince voters they are taking concerns about affordability seriously, congressional Republicans left town after failing to pass policy that would actually lower costs for American families

Washington, DC – Americans are upset – and know exactly who is to blame. With 33 days to the midterms, new polling spells spooky season for Trump and Republicans. The poll from Navigator Research finds rising costs of gas and utilities are a leading economic pain point for American consumers, and that they see Trump and Republicans as falling short on bringing these costs down. 

Judging by a recent press conference, it’s clear Trump and Republicans are seeing ghosts. Yesterday, Trump said he has done “a very bad job” explaining his economic record – but for Americans, there’s no explanation needed. Since Trump and his rubber-stamp Republicans started a war of choice in Iran, the cost of everything from gas to groceries to shipping is up, while their Big Oil and Gas donors see massive profits. And now, Trump and Republican approval is crashing because Americans know who to blame for these sky-high gas and utility prices. 

As Trump and Republicans try to spin their economic record, let’s get the facts straight.

THE FACTS: Trump and Republicans have created an energy crisis that is driving up costs for consumers. They promised to lower costs for American families, but instead, started a war in Iran and have blocked cheap, homegrown clean energy – meaning higher costs for families, while Trump’s fossil fuel donors rake in profits.

• Trump and the GOP told voters they would bring costs down. Instead, they have cost the average family at least $2,000 extra since Trump took office. That’s the impact of Trump’s tariffs, his ‘blockade’ of cheaper clean energy, and his failing war in Iran — and the costs keep piling up.
• Thanks to Trump and Republicans, over 400 clean energy projects have been canceled, delayed or hit by layoffs, resulting in enough lost generation to power more than 22 million homes. The result is utility bills up 15% nationally as of July, having spiked as much as 18% over the past year.
• As of September 11, Americans have spent over $121 billion more on energy since the war started, amounting to roughly $930 per household.

• New reporting shows consumers feel worse about the economy than at almost any point in modern history. Trump, JD Vance, and Republicans in Congress have created an energy crisis that is driving up their everyday costs. 
• Trump’s affordability crisis has pushed families to a breaking point. Nearly 60% are living paycheck to paycheck, and they are carrying more than $1.2T in credit card debt.
• According to the NEADA, Americans could face more than $500 in additional heating costs compared to before Trump’s war.

• Record-high diesel prices are forcing farmers, truckers, and small businesses to quit or are squeezing already razor-thin margins 

• A report from Bank of America found that utility bills skyrocketed faster than inflation over the summer.
• In 2024, Trump gathered a group of oil and gas CEOs at the White House and made them a deal: if they raised $1 billion for his campaign, he would make it worth their while. They did, and now Trump and his Oil and Gas billionaire buddies are celebrating skyrocketing oil prices as Americans pay more for gas, diesel, flights, shipping, and groceries.