Bulwark Takes: Trump’s Lies About Prices, Thoroughly Demolished
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host: The Bulwark
Speaker: Will Salatan

Introduction

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, Will Salatan dissects former President Donald Trump’s misleading statements regarding the U.S. economy, particularly focusing on his false claims about declining food prices. Salatan meticulously uses recorded statements and recent data to demonstrate how Trump has failed to manage the economy effectively, adversely affecting millions of Americans.

Trump’s False Claims on Food Prices

Salatan opens the discussion by addressing the core reason many voters supported Trump: the belief that he would understand the economy and reduce living costs. Contrary to these expectations, Trump has exacerbated economic issues instead.

• Official Data vs. Trump’s Claims:
  Salatan references the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) published a month prior, indicating rising food prices as of April 10. Despite this, Trump publicly asserted the opposite.

  • Michigan Rally Statement (01:13):
    Donald Trump: "Grocery prices have gone down. Everything's gone down."

  • White House Speech (01:36):
    Donald Trump: "Groceries are down. The grocery prices are down."

  • Oval Office Address (01:42):
    Donald Trump: "Groceries are down. All of this stuff is down."

  Salatan emphasizes the falsity of these statements by highlighting that the updated CPI shows food prices remained flat since the last report, effectively rising by half a percentage point since Trump assumed office.

• Trump’s Dismissive Comments on Low Prices:
  Salatan points out Trump's flippant remark about prices being "too low," which he made despite the reality of high costs affecting millions.

  • Trump’s Joke on Egg Prices (02:09):
    Donald Trump: "We have too many eggs. In fact, if anything, the prices are getting too low to be fair."

  Salatan criticizes this as insensitive, especially when many Americans struggle with affordability.

Ignoring Economic Indicators and Impact on Americans

Salatan transitions to how Trump dismisses warnings about his economic policies harming ordinary citizens.

• Tariffs and Their Consequences:
  Trump’s imposition of tariffs has led to increased costs for everyday items, yet he downplays these effects.

  • Cabinet Meeting Clip (02:51):
    Donald Trump: "Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."

  Salatan rebukes Trump’s indifference towards the financial strain on families, illustrating the president’s detachment from the real-world impact.

• Dismissal of Rising Costs:
  In a subsequent interview, Trump continues to trivialize the situation.

  • Meet the Press Interview (03:09):
    Donald Trump: "But you said some dolls are going to cost more. Isn't that an acknowledgment that some prices will go up?"

    Donald Trump: "I don't think a beautiful baby girl needs that' have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls."

  Salatan highlights that Trump's focus on arbitrary numbers of toys ignores the broader issue of unaffordable prices for essential goods.

Trump’s Dismissal of Recession Concerns

Salatan discusses Trump’s alarming stance on potential recessionary effects caused by his policies.

• Acceptance of Recession as a Byproduct:
  Trump appears unconcerned about the economic downturns resulting from his tariffs.

  • Trump’s Statement on Recession (04:05):
    Donald Trump: "Is it okay in the short term to have a recession?"

    Donald Trump: "Look, yeah, everything's okay."

  Salatan criticizes this viewpoint, noting that while such an attitude might not affect the wealthy, it has severe consequences for the average American, including job losses and increased poverty.

• Impact on Workers:
  Trump’s policies have directly affected specific sectors, leading to fear among workers.

  • Reporter’s Observation (04:37):
    Reporter: "Because business has slowed down... the ports here in the US the traffic has really slowed, and now thousands of dock workers and truck drivers are worried about their jobs."

  • Trump’s Response (04:51):
    Donald Trump: "Yeah, no, we lose. That means we lose less money. When I see that, that means we lose less money. So when you say it slowed down, that's a good thing, not a bad thing."

  Salatan underscores Trump’s lack of empathy, illustrating his prioritization of financial metrics over human welfare.

Stock Market Mismanagement

Salatan explores Trump’s flawed understanding and communication regarding the stock market’s performance under his administration.

• Initial Optimism vs. Reality:
  Despite Trump's claims of a booming economy, the stock market has faced significant declines.

  • Trump’s March 16 Statement (05:46):
    Donald Trump: "So I think our economy's gonna roar. I think our stock market's gonna do great."

  • Stock Market Decline (05:50):
    Following Trump’s tariff announcement, the stock market plummeted over 10% on April 3 and 4, erasing millions in American savings.

• Deflecting Blame:
  Rather than taking responsibility, Trump attributes the downturn to President Biden.

  • Truth Social Post:
    Donald Trump: "This is Biden's stock market, not Trump's. He said it had nothing to do with the tariffs."

  • Cabinet Meeting (06:24):
    Donald Trump: "When you look at the stock market in this case is it says how bad a situation we inherited. I took the place... We came in on January 20th. So this is Biden. And you could even say the next quarter is sort of Biden."

  Salatan criticizes Trump for preemptively blaming his predecessor, showing his inability to reconcile his policies with economic outcomes.

Approval Ratings and Polling Misrepresentation

Salatan highlights Trump’s disconnection from public sentiment and his manipulation of polling data.

• Declining Approval Ratings:
  RealClearPolitics shows Trump’s job approval rating turned negative in March and remains so by 4-5 points on average.

  • Gallup Data:
    Indicates Trump has the worst approval ratings in the first three months of any president in recorded history.

• Dismissal of Negative Polls:
  Trump claims polls are fabricated and overestimates his approval.

  • Rally in Michigan (08:32):
    Donald Trump: "But when you watch the fake news, you see fake polls. But on the legitimate polls, I think we're in the 60s. I really, I think we're in the 60s or 70s or something."

  Salatan refutes this by presenting RealClearPolitics data, which includes over 130 polls showing no legitimate survey places Trump's approval in the 60s, with none exceeding 55 in recent months.

• Fabricated Poll Results:
  Trump’s portrayal of near-universal approval is debunked.

  • Michigan Rally Statement (09:19):
    Donald Trump: "And as a result of our policies, for the first time in modern history, more Americans believe that our country is headed in the right direction than the wrong direction."

  • Salatan’s Counter:
    Examines over 40 polls in the last three months, none of which support Trump’s claim. On average, nine percentage points more Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

  • Fake Poll Example:
    Trump shared an image purportedly showing a 99% approval rate, which Salatan identifies as a straw poll from CPAC attendees, not reflective of the general populace.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Salatan acknowledges that not all of Trump’s actions are detrimental and notes that some advisors have occasionally influenced better decisions, such as temporarily lowering tariffs. However, he underscores that Trump's overall inability to recognize the negative impact of his policies necessitates proactive measures by voters.

• Impact of Trump’s Leadership:
  Salatan argues that Trump remains detached from the real consequences of his economic strategies, prioritizing incorrect narratives over factual data and public well-being.

• Voter Responsibility:
  Emphasizes the importance of electing responsible state and federal officials who can counteract Trump’s harmful policies and prevent further economic deterioration.

  • Salatan’s Final Remarks:
    "The president of the United States simply doesn't see and doesn't get what's happening to real people. And as long as he's in that job, we need to elect governors, state legislators, and members of Congress who will stop him from doing even more damage. See you next time."

Key Takeaways

• Misrepresentation of Economic Data: Trump has consistently misreported economic indicators, particularly regarding food prices, misleading the public about the true state of the economy.

• Disregard for Public Welfare: His policies, especially tariffs, have led to increased costs and job insecurity for many Americans, yet he remains indifferent to these hardships.

• Stock Market Accountability: Trump deflects responsibility for stock market declines, blaming former President Biden despite clear connections to his own economic policies.

• Manipulation of Polling Data: By dismissing legitimate polls and promoting fabricated ones, Trump maintains a falsely inflated perception of public support.

• Urgent Need for Responsible Leadership: Voters are encouraged to support and elect officials who recognize and address the adverse effects of Trump’s policies to safeguard the nation’s economic health.

This comprehensive analysis by Will Salatan serves as a critical examination of Donald Trump’s economic rhetoric and actions, providing listeners with factual insights and urging proactive political engagement to rectify ongoing economic challenges.