Fact Check: Is Karoline Leavitt’s claim that Trump made the US more affordable true?

WASHINGTON, DC: As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a claim by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is gaining attention online.

During an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, Leavitt said that President Donald Trump has made the country “more affordable” while discussing Democratic policies. However, reports and economic data present a more mixed picture. Overall consumer prices have continued to rise since Trump took office in January 2025, even though some individual prices have fallen and inflation has slowed during certain periods 

Let's fact-check Leavitt's claim.

Claim: Karoline Leavitt claimed Trump has made the country more affordable

Hannity discussed the upcoming midterm elections and urged viewers to vote. He said, “Your vote will be the only thing to stop this looming threat of communism and socialism in our country.”

Hannity then asked Leavitt for her reaction to Democratic candidates, including Texas state Rep James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominees for US Senate in Texas and Michigan. 

He also mentioned a candidate in the Maine Senate race and referred to him as someone who had been accused of throwing a water bottle at a woman and having a bad temper.

Leavitt responded by criticizing Democratic candidates and their policies.

She said, “Well, I don’t think so. And I certainly pray it does not. I believe that there are millions of Americans across this country who see these Democrats for who they are. These are radical extreme liberals, socialists, communists, whatever you want to call them, Sean.”

She then criticized Democrats over issues including taxes, policing, prisons and immigration. Leavitt said, “This is no longer the Democrat party of JFK. Heck, this is not even the Democrat party of Barack Obama.”

Leavitt also blamed the Biden administration for what she described as lawlessness and chaos. She said, “We had four years of that under Joe Biden. Thanks to President Trump and Republicans and common sense policies across the board, our country is safer, our country more affordable.”

Leavitt’s claim went viral online, with several users accusing her of misleading the public. One user wrote, "Another day..Another LIE from self proclaimed cross wearing “Christian”?!?!"

Another frustrated user said, "Karoline knows we look at the receipts when we buy stuff, right? And we keep track of how money is left in our accounts?"

Fact Check: Inaccurate

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listens to a reporter's question during a news briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 26, 2026 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The claim that “thanks to President Trump, our country is more affordable” is mostly inaccurate based on available data through mid-2026. 

Overall consumer prices have increased since Trump took office in January 2025, although some prices have fallen and inflation has slowed at certain times.

The White House and Leavitt have pointed to several factors to support the claim, including tax cuts, deregulation, higher energy production, lower gas prices before the 2026 Iran conflict, declines in some grocery prices, rising real wages and periods of improved mortgage affordability. 

They have also blamed many of the remaining high costs on the previous administration.

However, several fact-checks of similar claims that prices are “coming down” or “way down” have found limited evidence to support them.  

Prices for most major categories remain higher than they were in January 2025, even though inflation has changed over time and some individual prices have improved.

Several factors have affected prices, including tariffs, supply problems such as livestock shortages and higher energy costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East. 

Public opinion also remains divided over whether the economy has improved and how much credit or blame should go to the Trump administration.