President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democrats’ economic messaging following Tuesday’s off-year elections, calling their affordability pitch a “con job” and accusing them of misleading voters on the true state of prices under their policies.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump cited a Walmart report comparing the cost of Thanksgiving dinners under President Biden to previous years.
> “Walmart said yesterday that Thanksgiving dinner was 25 percent more expensive under Biden,” Trump said. “That’s a big number — and Walmart’s respected. It means the whole series of pricing and costs, groceries and everything else, was a con job.”
Trump argued that Democrats were trying to deceive voters with false claims about economic improvement, adding,
> “The Democrats are good at a few things — cheating on elections and conning people with facts that aren’t true.”
The comments came after Republicans underperformed in several key state elections this week, including contests in Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio. Trump has sought to re-center the GOP’s message around cost of living and inflation, issues that helped fuel conservative victories in 2024.
Trump’s focus on the cost of Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal is part of his broader effort to link economic hardship directly to Biden-era policies. He has repeatedly pointed to rising grocery prices as proof that Democrats have failed working families.
However, economic data show a more mixed picture. Annual inflation rose to 3 percent in September, roughly the same level as when Trump took office in January 2025 suggesting that price growth has stabilized but remains high compared to pre-pandemic levels.
In a post on TruthSocial Thursday, Trump doubled down on the argument, declaring the affordability issue “dead” for Democrats and again citing Walmart’s numbers as evidence of their failure.
Yet, the Walmart report itself paints a more nuanced picture. The retailer noted that this year’s holiday meal which feeds 10 people for under $4 per person is cheaper per serving than last year’s, though it includes fewer items and more store-brand substitutions instead of name-brand products. Last year’s meal served eight people for under $7 per person.
Despite the data gap, Trump’s messaging underscores how affordability will remain a central theme of his administration and campaign narrative framing Democrats as out of touch with everyday economic struggles.
As the 2026 midterm season approaches, both parties are recalibrating their strategies, but Trump made clear that for Republicans, “affordability” is the fight they intend to win back.
