Rep Brendan Boyle says Trump trying to ‘con’ people into thinking he’s ‘sticking up’ for them
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Brendan Boyle sharply criticized Trump’s recent call to cap credit card interest rates, accusing him of using social media to create the impression he is protecting consumers without any legal authority to enforce such a move.
Speaking in a recent interview with Meidas Touch host Ben Meiselas on the network's podcast, Boyle was commenting on the GOP and Trump's corruption and lies to the American people. Boyle said Trump’s messaging was designed to appeal to casual viewers while sidestepping the realities of how federal policy is actually made.
Brendan Boyle says Trump's social media posts do not carry legal weight
Boyle argued that Trump’s announcement, made on Truth Social, was not grounded in law or executive authority. “Donald Trump ordering something via social media does not make it law and does not mean it’s going to happen,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said.
He described the tactic as part of a familiar pattern.
“I genuinely believe Trump is the most successful con man in American history,” Boyle said, adding that the latest post was aimed at convincing voters that Trump is personally stepping in to lower their financial burdens.
According to Boyle, the strategy relies on perception rather than policy. “He wants the casual viewer to say, ‘Oh, this is great. Donald Trump’s sticking up for me. He’s capping my credit card interest,” he said.
Credit card interest cap announcement sparks debate
Trump called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates in a Truth Social post on Friday, Jan 9, framing the move as an effort to address affordability. The president suggested the cap should take effect on the first anniversary of what he described as a “very successful” Trump administration.
“Please be informed that we will no longer let the American Public be ‘ripped off’ by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, and even more,” Trump wrote, blaming high interest rates on policies that he said went unchecked during the Biden administration.
The proposal revived a campaign promise Trump made during the 2024 election, when he floated the idea of limiting interest rates as part of a broader effort to court working-class voters.
Brendan Boyle warns of political messaging over policy
Boyle said the president’s language was carefully chosen to leave an impression that may linger beyond the news cycle. “Then it’ll be forgotten about, and that person will move on to something else,” he said, suggesting Trump is counting on voters remembering the promise rather than its outcome.
“He’s hoping that same person will come back at election time and say, ‘Yeah, I like that Donald Trump. He brought down my credit card costs,’ even though you and I both know it’s not grounded in reality,” Boyle added.
The congressman emphasized that major changes to credit card regulations would require congressional action, not a unilateral declaration on social media.