By: Daily Morph | Published February 17, 2025
Donald Trump has been vocal in blaming President Joe Biden for inflation, but what he fails to acknowledge is the significant role his own policies—particularly tariffs—are playing in driving prices even higher. While he markets his economic agenda under the guise of "Making America Affordable Again," the reality is that his policies are anything but affordable for the lower and middle classes, which make up the majority of American citizens.
Trump’s economic priorities do not align with the needs of working-class Americans. Instead, his policies overwhelmingly favor the wealthiest individuals—millionaires and billionaires—who have never struggled with affordability in the first place. Meanwhile, the working class, which is responsible for generating much of the wealth that sustains these elites, is left to bear the burden of rising costs.
One of Trump’s primary justifications for reinstating and expanding tariffs is the claim that they are necessary to combat the influx of fentanyl into the United States from Canada, Mexico, and China. While fentanyl trafficking is a serious crisis that demands action, tariffs do little to address the root causes of drug smuggling and instead act as a smokescreen for economic policies that disproportionately harm American consumers. The reality is that tariffs increase costs for businesses and consumers alike, further exacerbating inflation. Rather than curbing the fentanyl crisis, these economic policies serve as a convenient excuse to impose protectionist measures that ultimately benefit the wealthy elite while burdening the average American.
Under Trump's proposed economic strategy, affordability is reserved for the wealthy, while everyday Americans continue to grapple with higher prices for essential goods and services. His tariffs, which contribute significantly to inflation, are being deflected onto Biden, despite their direct impact on the cost of imports and consumer goods. Rather than offering solutions that ease financial strain for ordinary citizens, Trump’s policies serve to protect and enrich those who already enjoy economic security.
If affordability is the goal, then economic policies must prioritize the majority—not just the privileged few. As the nation debates its economic future, it is crucial to recognize who truly benefits from Trump's agenda and who is left struggling to keep up.
_Daily Morph
