Trump’s Grocery Gaslighting: How Billionaires Got Fat While You Got Scraps
The myth of Trump as a populist champion doesn’t hold up under the weight of rising prices, stagnant wages, and his billionaire-friendly policies.
The Grocery King’s Latest Claim
Donald Trump made headlines recently when he told Meet the Press that he “won on groceries.” The former president—known for his hyperbolic claims—suggested he singlehandedly tamed grocery prices, framing himself as a champion of the common shopper. But let’s unpack this statement. Did Trump really save you a dime on bacon and eggs? Or is this another case of Trump-style populism: big on rhetoric, short on results, and designed to distract from who really benefits under his policies?
Spoiler: It’s not you or your grocery budget.
Inflation: The Real Story
Trump’s claim hinges on the inflation narrative—a topic many Americans know all too well as they struggle with rising costs for everyday essentials. But inflation is complex, and Trump’s record reveals that he contributed to the very conditions he now decries.
During his presidency, Trump pushed through sweeping tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefited corporations and the ultra-wealthy. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed corporate tax rates, ballooning the deficit and fueling wealth inequality. Meanwhile, those same corporations took the extra cash and bought back stock, enriching shareholders instead of investing in wages or stabilizing prices for consumers.
Inflation didn’t start under Trump, but his policies added jet fuel to the fire. When the pandemic hit, supply chain issues and demand surges exacerbated the problem. Add stagnant wages, and you’ve got a recipe for financial disaster—not exactly the hallmark of a grocery-saving hero.
The Wages Trump Didn’t Raise
Let’s talk about what Trump didn’t do: raise the federal minimum wage. It has remained stuck at $7.25 since 2009. While Trump occasionally paid lip service to wage growth, his administration took no meaningful steps to ensure workers could keep up with the cost of living.
Think about it: even before the pandemic-induced inflation spike, grocery prices were outpacing wage growth. Eggs, milk, and produce became pricier while workers’ paychecks stayed stagnant. If Trump really wanted to “win on groceries,” wouldn’t the logical step have been to make sure Americans had more money in their wallets to begin with?
Who Actually Won? Billionaires and CEOs
Let’s be clear: someone did win during Trump’s presidency. It wasn’t the struggling single mom trying to stretch a food budget. It wasn’t the gig worker living paycheck to paycheck. It was the billionaires and CEOs who saw their net worth skyrocket while the rest of us watched our purchasing power erode.
According to a report from Americans for Tax Fairness, U.S. billionaires added over $1 trillion to their net worth during Trump’s tenure. The stock market boomed, corporate profits soared, and Trump’s friends in the upper echelons of society toasted their tax windfalls with vintage champagne.
And the grocery shopper? They got to “celebrate” by paying more for apples and eggs.
The Populist Charade
Trump has always marketed himself as a man of the people, but his track record tells a different story. His “populism” is a well-worn facade, designed to channel working-class frustration while delivering for the elite. When Trump talks about groceries, he’s not actually offering solutions—he’s weaponizing your anger to keep you distracted.
And it’s not just groceries. Trump’s strategy is to frame himself as the only one who understands your pain, even though his policies deepen it. Whether it’s healthcare, wages, or infrastructure, Trump consistently sides with the wealthy and powerful while leaving everyday Americans to pick up the tab.
Why the Grocery Myth Matters
Why does it matter that Trump falsely claims he “won on groceries”? Because it’s emblematic of a broader problem in American politics: the art of the distraction. Politicians like Trump want you to focus on feel-good anecdotes and empty slogans instead of looking at the systemic issues that make groceries—and everything else—unaffordable.
The real causes of high grocery prices aren’t mysterious. Corporate consolidation in the food industry has allowed a handful of companies to dominate the market, setting prices with little competition. Climate change, supply chain disruptions, and pandemic fallout have also played major roles. But these are big, thorny problems—problems that require more than slogans and soundbites to solve.
Trump’s grocery narrative isn’t just false; it’s dangerous because it obscures the real solutions we need.
Don’t Buy the Spin
The next time Trump—or any politician—claims to be your champion, take a closer look. Are they delivering real change, or just more rhetoric? Trump’s grocery claim is just the latest in a long line of populist posturing, designed to keep you distracted while the real beneficiaries—corporations, billionaires, and political elites—laugh all the way to the bank.
We don’t need grocery gaslighting. We need real policies that put working people first: higher wages, corporate accountability, and investments in sustainable infrastructure. Until then, Trump’s “win on groceries” will remain just another line of empty promises, as hollow as the carts of those struggling to make ends meet.
The next time you hear someone claim they’re fighting for you, ask yourself: Are they really? Or are they just selling you a slogan while shopping for yachts? It’s time to stop buying what they’re selling—because the cost is way too high.
…our country is fucking STUPID
Good one Tony!