Fact Check: Did Trump say people claiming grocery prices are rising should be arrested?
WASHINGTON, DC: US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed back against claims that grocery prices are rising, sparking debate over the cost of living ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Amid the debate, an X user claimed Trump said anyone who argues that grocery prices are going up should be arrested. The post has raised questions about whether the president actually made such a statement. Did Trump really make this controversial remark during his midterm campaign? Let's fact-check the claim.
Claim: Trump said people arguing that grocery prices are going up should be arrested
TRUMP: “Anybody who says grocery prices are up should be arrested”
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) November 1, 2026
An X user shared a post claiming Trump made a controversial remark about grocery prices, turning his repeated denials of rising prices into an alleged arrest statement.
The post read, “TRUMP: ‘Anybody who says grocery prices are up should be arrested.’”
Within two to three hours, the post had received more than 10,000 views and attracted several comments.
One user criticized Trump, writing, “The only thing that went down was EGGS. Remove that Convicted Felon from office!” Another commenter said, “He’s delusional.”
A third user questioned the alleged remark, writing, “lol what? so now we're arresting people for stating facts? grocery stores are literally charging $8 for a box of cereal, i'm not making this up 💀 this is unhinged even for him.”
Official data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows grocery prices have increased since January 2025, although the exact rise varies by product and measurement period.
Factors such as energy costs, supply chains, tariffs, and broader inflation trends have contributed to price changes, despite Trump's campaign promises to bring prices down quickly.
Fact Check: No evidence to support the claim
The claim that Trump said people who report rising grocery prices should be arrested is false.
Although an X post by @SpencerHakimian attributes the statement to him, no credible news report, speech transcript, or video recording confirms that Trump ever made this remark.
The account describes itself as sharing “The Craziest Stories On The Internet, Every Day,” suggesting that the post may use exaggeration or humor rather than report an actual statement.
However, Trump has repeatedly disputed claims that grocery prices are rising. During a November 2025 interview with 60 Minutes, the interviewer told him, “Grocery prices are up.” Trump responded, “No, you’re wrong. They went up under Biden, right now they’re going down. Other than beef, which we’re working on.”
Trump has also repeatedly claimed that grocery prices are “down” or “way down” and criticized people who say otherwise. However, official economic data has shown that grocery prices have continued to rise over certain periods.
Although Trump's remarks about grocery prices are well documented, there is no credible evidence that he called for people who say prices are rising to be arrested.
