Trump’s Oval Office Address Tonight Will Cover Plenty of Topics — Except the Issues Americans Care About The Most

As Trump comes before the nation for his address, recent analysis from Climate Power and the Center for American Progress Action Fund shows the administration has raised costs for the average family by at least $2000

Washington, DC – Since Trump took office, his policies have created an affordability crisis that Americans have consistently said is their number one issue. His on-again, off-again war of choice in Iran has sent gas prices soaring — with diesel back up to over $5 a gallon since his most recent end to the ceasefire. Trump’s gutting of clean energy tax credits spiked utility bills up to 18% nationally, his blanket tariffs have raised the price of groceries, furniture, and prescription drugs, and his refusal to extend ACA premium tax credits has doubled health insurance costs for millions of families. 

None of it was inevitable — at every turn, Trump’s Republican allies in Congress had the votes to stop it, and chose not to. Instead of addressing any of this tonight — or another $95 billion in taxpayer dollars for Iran, Trump is expected to put himself first and talk about everything except the affordability crisis he created, and has repeatedly said he doesn’t even think about Americans’ financial situation.

Climate Power Senior Advisor Jesse Lee released the following statement: “Trump continues to fiddle while Americans’ savings burn. Tonight, Trump is going to have a chance to level with the American people about the cost of his own decisions — and instead he will do what he always does, change the subject. Families are paying more for gas, more on their electric bills, and more for basic groceries because this administration chose to prioritize oil executives and tariff obsessions over the cost of just getting by under his presidency. Americans don’t need another speech; they need Republicans in Congress to grow up and reverse course. Instead, they’re about to give Trump another $95 billion in tax dollars for his war that’s accomplishing nothing but jacking up prices at the pump.”

Don’t just take our word for it — hear directly from a few Americans who have had to pay thousands more thanks to Trump’s disastrous presidency:

• “Two or three grand makes a huge difference in the long term and day-to-day quality of life for the average person. It means not constantly grinding to pay bills at the last minute; it means having a savings cushion that helps me sleep at night, and it helps me to make medical choices based on what actually I need and not what I can scrape by financially.” — Samantha Lott, Community Social Worker, Texas
• “If my family had an extra $2,000 to $3,500 this year, it would have meant not having to choose between keeping our lights and water on and paying for essential medications. We’ve received shut-off notices for both our electric and water bills while also facing hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket prescription costs. That money would have provided stability, allowed us to stay current on our utilities, and ensured we could afford the medications we need without sacrificing other basic necessities.” — Maria Taylor, Healthcare Patient Outreach Coordinator, Iowa
• “With that money I could’ve caught up on my energy bills rather than paying late fees and worrying about shut-off notices.” — Mykel Reese, Disabled Veteran, Arizona
• “You can see it all over our community this summer — people running their AC less than they should when it’s 100 degrees out, or paying one bill late so they can cover another. It adds up to the same thing everywhere you look: we’re doing everything right and still falling behind because costs keep climbing.” — Doha Medani, Community Organizer, Atlanta