As Donald Trump takes the dais for his first joint address to Congress of his second term, he is bound to continue his well-trod path of lying about his record and his plans for the country.
But with the Trump Administration doubling down on launching trade wars with our closest allies, alienating other allies in Europe, slashing critical jobs across the government that save lives, and insisting on pushing through a $4.5 trillion tax cut for billionaires, here’s a look back on just how much of a lie Trump’s claim that he’ll “Make America Affordable Again” really is:
- “End inflation” on day one. Trump’s planned 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico are predicted to raise prices for consumers, not lower them. The import taxes will raise prices on Canadian lumber and crude, Mexican produce, and other consumer products, and hit Americans directly at the grocery store. Economists predict that the tariffs will cost American households an average of $1,200 each year.
- Cut the price of a new home “in half.” Trump’s policies have made this impossible. 25 percent tariffs on Canadian lumber and gypsum will raise construction prices. Trump’s deportation policies will impact the supply of skilled construction workers, 30 percent of whom are immigrants, further raising construction prices. Higher inflation as a result of the tariffs will negatively affect interest rates, making it harder for families to purchase an already-more expensive new home.
- “We’re going down and getting gasoline below $2 a gallon.” Trump promised that he would lower gas prices to under $2 per gallon. That simply has not happened — the AAA average for a gallon of gasoline currently sits at over $3/gallon — and gas prices are expected to rise even further in the coming weeks and months.
- “These eggs are a disaster. […] I think we can do something about it.” Egg prices continue to soar across the country, and while demand continues to outpace supply, the Trump administration’s suggested fix is that Americans should buy egg-laying chickens for their own backyards. At the same time, there is currently an oversupply of eggs in Ukraine.
- “A vote for Trump means your groceries will be cheaper.” The day before the election, Trump repeated a promise to bring down grocery prices that became a cornerstone of his campaign. Not only does the price of eggs continue to climb, but grocery prices went up in January, spiking nearly 2% from the same month last year.
- “We will bring our auto-making industry to the record levels of 37 years ago, and we’ll be able to do it very quickly through tariffs.” Automakers in Detroit don’t believe Trump, and in addition to their concern that the tariffs will raise automobile prices — as parts for many vehicles are made across North America — they are in fact delaying production of new vehicles because of the uncertainty caused by the administration. Ford’s CEO said Trump’s tariffs would “blow a hole” in the industry.
- “I will protect and expand the child tax credit.” He has not done this and has stopped talking about it.
- Trump claimed he had “concepts of a plan” that would make health care more affordable than the Affordable Care Act which Trump said “stinks,” and called “lousy.” There has been no alternative plan to the ACA offered by Trump — instead, on day one, Trump revoked executive orders to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, lower prescription drug prices, and reduce barriers to access to affordable health care for all Americans.
- “Social Security […] Medicaid… none of that stuff is going to be touched.” Trump celebrated a budget plan passed by House Republicans that includes an estimated $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid. Trump’s reckless and dangerous cuts to the federal workforce included thousands from the Social Security Administration which could mean serious problems for processing timely payments for the 70 million Americans who rely on the program.
- “Make the Trump tax cuts permanent.” This is one promise Trump is desperate to keep — because his tax scam is a $4.5 trillion kickback to millionaires and billionaires that will increase the national debt and require cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP to afford it.
Published: Mar 4, 2025