Josh Shapiro accuses Trump of shifting blame for his 'failing' economic policies

WASHINGTON, DC: Pennsylvania Governor​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍ Josh Shapiro had some strong words for President Donald Trump and his nationwide tour to promote his administration's economic agenda, which starts in Shapiro's home state.

Shapiro, speculated to be a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate and a possible shining star, appeared on MS NOW's ‘The Weeknight’ and said that Trump is just incapable of making people believe that the inflation they see and feel with their own eyes and wallets is all a ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌lie.

Josh Shapiro says prices have dramatically increased on Trump's watch

Anchor and former Republican chairman Michael Steele asked Shapiro, "Governor, given that the president just learned the word 'affordability,' how do you suspect he's going to address the affordability crisis?"

To this Shapiro had a sharp response ready: "I mean, if he comes to Pennsylvania and spews more BS like he did today at the White House, I think what you're ultimately going to find are people tuning him out, because folks can't unsee what they see when they go to the grocery store, which is that beef and [orange juice] and bread and the normal staples that they need in their homes, those prices have dramatically increased on Donald Trump's watch." 

Josh Shapiro claims Trump is 'putting people out of business' with his economic policies

While talking at length about the affordability crisis and the current administration’s handling of it, Shapiro said, "And so what you have is a president who seems to want to blame everybody else, whose economic policies are failing as a result of his tariffs."

He continued. "Things cost more, whether you're at the grocery store or you're our farmers; he's putting people out of business as a result of his economic policies. And I think folks are smarter, and too smart, to believe his rhetoric."

In recent months, Shapiro has tightened his grip on Pennsylvania's Democratic machine. He has been recruiting key congressional candidates, clearing the field for them, and remaking the state party.

Republican Stacy Garrity, who's challenging Shapiro for governor, vows to complicate his expected glide path to reelection and likely run for president.

When asked about a potential presidential run, Shapiro told The Dispatch in May, "A year ago, when someone would say that to me, I quite candidly would just laugh, and shrug it off, and go about my day." 

Things are different now. While he doesn't let the thought of a potential run for the White House distract him from the work he is doing as governor, which "is where 100 percent of my focus is," he does "hear when folks say that to me. I hear them say it because they’re scared about what’s happening in DC now."