Kathrine Frich
The host pushed back about the reality on the ground.
Shopping for basics has become a painful experience.
When prices stay stubbornly high, people naturally want answers.
Politicians constantly debate the cause, but the conversation often circles back to decisions made years ago.
Passing the blame
The Director of the National Economic Council faced a grilling on Sunday. Kevin Hassett appeared on Fox News to debate the economy with Pete Doocy, and the interview quickly grew tense. The Irish Star reported their chat focused heavily on the rising cost of living.
The host pushed back about the reality on the ground. Doocy asked, “But would you admit that when you walk out of the White House, you ask anybody, somebody from in town, somebody from out of town, they would say that they think stuff is too expensive right now. Would you agree with that?”
Hassett immediately pointed backward. He replied, “Well, sure, we had 20% inflation under Joe Biden.”
He argued that current data tells a better story. Hassett stated, “And so there’s been a big reduction in inflation, but prices are higher because of the huge inflation that we inherited from Joe Biden. But inflation is way down.”
The cost of conflict
Doocy then asked when everyday costs would drop. He pointed out that President Donald Trump recently defended high prices as a necessary result of the war with Iran.
During the broadcast, Doocy played a video clip of the president. In the footage, Trump called the economic pain an “Inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done.”
Hassett defended the military action, citing foreign threats. He explained, “And again, this whole thing started because the Iranians told us, like, we don’t have to talk to you anymore because we’re two weeks from having a nuclear weapon.”
Public frustration grows
Experts suggest the financial pressure will stick around. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that the Federal Reserve actually increased its benchmark interest rate.
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, told reporters the situation reflects a permanent shift. He noted, “We’ve undergone a structural transformation of the economy. The regime change in inflation and interest rates is the outcome.”
Voters expressed their anger online. One social media user called Hassett’s comments a “relentless denial of reality.”
Another person pointed out the timeline of the shifting blame. They wrote, “Another day, another round of ‘blame Biden even though he hasn’t been President for 20 months…'”
Sources: Irish Star, Fox News, Associated Press
