President Donald Trump's efforts to lower prices for American consumers have on numerous occasions met with opposition from lawmakers, farmers, oil companies, and economic realities, as the midterm elections draw near.
As reported by The Washington Post, the White House has suggested a number of proposals designed to alleviate the ongoing problem of inflation, such as allowing the import of beef without tariffs, imposing restrictions on the export of diesel, and making payments of $5,000 to adult Americans if the Republicans keep control of Congress. However, all of these measures have so far encountered major obstacles.
Inflation has stayed above the level that the Federal Reserve has set, and rising prices have continued to affect consumers. According to economists quoted by the Post, some of the policies introduced by Trump, such as tariffs and restrictions on immigration, have been responsible for the rise in prices. Additionally, the conflict with Iran has disturbed global oil supplies and increased energy costs.
The administration has put into practice a number of specific strategies.
In August, Trump temporarily cancelled the tariffs on foreign beef trimmings in order to boost imports and reduce the prices of ground beef, which have risen by nearly 25 percent since the start of his second term.
Opposition to the move came from Republican politicians from farm states and from cattle producers, who claimed that cheaper imports could damage American ranchers who are already facing higher costs for fuel, grain and fertilizer. Later, Trump signed an executive order intended as support for domestic producers, and it is reported that the administration has thought about reversing its policy on beef imports. However, the White House has denied any intention to do so.
Later, at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump suggested an even bigger measure, committing to giving every adult American a $5,000 dividend if the Republicans keep both the House and the Senate on November 3.
Congress would need to approve the plan, and it could cost more than $1 trillion. Certain Republican lawmakers have raised doubts as to whether such payments could contribute to inflation and lead to a larger federal deficit. According to The Post, there has been little progress in Congress on legislation authorizing the payments.
Then the administration shifted its focus to diesel prices after they had reached record levels.
Both Trump and Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, suggested limiting diesel exports, arguing that keeping more fuel in the United States would increase domestic supply and lower prices.
However, the big oil companies and Energy Secretary Chris Wright disagreed with the idea of a mandatory ban, claiming it might discourage production and in the end lead to higher prices. Wright later stated that any restrictions would most likely be voluntary.
Other attempts have led to only minor achievements. In August, Bessent announced plans to buy back Treasury bonds in an attempt to curb the rising yields, since these yields affect mortgage and other borrowing costs. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage, however, reached 7% last week for the first time since January 2025.
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who is the president of the American Action Forum, described the emphasis on individual prices as being like "whack-a-mole", pointing out that the Biden administration too had taken targeted actions when inflation had been high.
As Holtz-Eakin told the Post, it does not deal with the economic problem and does not appear to have been particularly politically successful.
“This whack-a-mole with particular prices is something the Biden guys tried,” he said, continuing: “It doesn’t solve the economic problem, and it doesn’t seem particularly politically successful.”
