Republican advisor says Trump could fix holidays with 'swipe of a pen'

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a dinner with the leaders of the C5+1Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, in the East Room of the White House in Washingto

Former American Enterprise Institute policy Director Abby McCloskey says President Donald Trump rode into the White House on a promise to turn price hikes around and make things more affordable.

“It’s time to try harder,” McCloskey told Bloomberg. “The last six weeks of the year are critical for the U.S. economy — retailers traditionally reap their highest sales figures, create seasonal employment and see a boost in profits. … But retailers aren’t offering as many seasonal jobs this year, the forecast for holiday spending is mixed, and prices remain stubbornly high.”

This holiday season, “many American small businesses and consumers remain hard-hit. For them, [Trump’s] tariffs feel personal,” said McClosky, who was policy director for Gov. Rick Perry's 2016 presidential campaign as well as an economic advisor to Gov. Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign that same year. “My siblings run an online store selling rugs part-time while raising lots of kids. Turns out, Turkish rugs aren’t made in the US. They are taking home less profit, just in time for Christmas.”

McClosky said Christmas ornaments that previously would have been stocking-stuffers are now over her threshold. And she’s come to expect the same sticker shock at the grocery store while stocking up to feed extended family.

“I have a friend who runs a successful clothing business that heavily relies on foreign imports. During the 2024 presidential campaign, this friend was a big Trump booster, mostly excited about the Make America Healthy Again movement. She even had a keychain on her purse that was what can best be described as a Trump troll, a plastic body with fuzzy long hair,” said McClosky. “I was with her recently and her business has taken a hit; they are letting someone go and cancelling year-end bonuses. So much for the funny keychain.”

McClosky said Trump’s tariff pain is an undeniable factor.

“I recently ordered something from Etsy. I was surprised to find that the item wouldn’t be delivered until I wrote an additional $32 check to the US Postal Service for the tariff amount, which will go straight from my pockets into Uncle Sam’s coffers, McClosky said, adding that the new cost sounded so dodgy she initially thought it was a scam.

“Try to tell me that a tariff is not a tax,” McClosky said.

Suddenly sensing their political liability, McClosky notes the Trump administration has lowered tariffs on household items such as coffee, bananas, beef and tomatoes, but it needs to go much further than that.

“Affordability is a bipartisan concern,” she said. “Trump is 39 points underwater on the cost of living, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Anxiety about inflation is top of mind for voters all across America — in college towns and Evangelical communities, in rural areas and big cities, and among White, Hispanic and Black counties.”

“If prices fall it will be because of rollbacks like these — and more of them. All it takes is a slice of humble pie (surely there are Thanksgiving leftovers) and the swipe of a pen!”

See the Bloomberg article at this link

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