Trump claims to be ‘crushing’ inflation in Pennsylvania speech amid affordability concerns
Trump today in Pennsylvania: "We're bringing those prices down rapidly. Lower prices, bigger paychecks. Inflation -- we're crushing it." It must be true, just look at the signs behind him. pic.twitter.com/Mxvm0o2YZb
— Billy Jensen (@Billyjensen) December 10, 2025
MOUNT POCONO, PENNSYLVANIA: President Trump on Tuesday, December 9, evening delivered a nearly 90 minute speech to voters in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
In the speech, he defended his economic record and claimed that he is “crushing” inflation.
Donald Trump's economic focus in Pennsylvania speech
In the speech, Trump repeatedly pressed the case that “America is winning again” and “Pennsylvania is prospering again.”
He pointed to job growth in Pennsylvania, noting the state’s unemployment rate is slightly lower than the national average, and he cited a decline in gas prices.
Trump hailed his tariffs on foreign goods, arguing that they are now paying dividends for the US economy, despite widespread concern among economists that tariffs can slow growth and raise consumer prices.
As part of his economic agenda, Trump mentioned the tax provisions in what he described as his “big, beautiful bill.” He proposed creating investment accounts for children, seeded with $1,000 from the federal government for eligible kids, along with a tax deduction for tips.
He also defended his decision to allow Japan-based Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel, a major employer in Pennsylvania. He said his administration “saved” the company, declaring it is now “hot as a pistol.”
Trump argued that steel is essential, saying people can forgo certain consumer items - “you don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter” ‐ but steel is indispensable.
.@POTUS: "Together, we're repairing 4 years of disaster by the Radical Left Democrats in Congress, and by [Joe Biden]... After just 10 months, our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is stopped, wages are up, prices are down... and America is back!" pic.twitter.com/rqFpkxSWpS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 10, 2025
Donald Trump and affordability debate
Throughout the speech, he blamed Democrats for affordability issues and reiterated that their policies caused high prices, which his administration is now correcting.
The speech comes after weeks of Trump dismissing affordability concerns as a "Democratic hoax, a con job and a scam."
Q: On affordability, are the American people getting impatient with the reforms that you're making?
— FactPost (@factpostnews) December 2, 2025
Trump: I think they're getting fake news from guys like you. Affordability is a hoax that was started by Democrats. pic.twitter.com/uefurLzEsu
He further argued that he couldn’t call it a hoax “because they’ll misconstrue that.”
While dismissing the narrative around affordability, he acknowledged, "I inherited the worst inflation in history. There was no affordability. Nobody could afford anything."
In an interview released Tuesday, the president told Politico that “prices are all coming down.”
According to sources, the president at the urging of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, decided to start directly addressing affordability to rally support for the upcoming midterm elections.In a November poll by YouGov and CBS News, 60% of respondents said Trump “makes prices and inflation sound better than they really are.”
In recent months, the administration has taken steps such as removing certain tariffs on items like beef, bananas and coffee and considering using tariff revenue to reduce federal income taxes or provide direct aid.
