They Tell Us “Everything’s Booming” While Prices Cripple Us

My bank balance is shrinking every day. A pack of short ribs now costs close to fifty dollars. I go to buy the things I used to afford without thinking, and tariffs are driving prices even higher. Yet Trump keeps saying there’s no inflation, that the economy is booming, and that the pain we feel is all in our heads. Who is he talking about? Because it is not the regular people trying to feed their families and make rent.

When Kamala Harris called out the administration, saying not to let them gaslight the country, it hit home. I see what is happening. The rhetoric, the spin, the coverups, the fake stories meant to distract us from what is real. It is insulting to pretend everything is fine when millions of people are struggling to keep up.

Trump has been promoting a list of narratives that sound powerful on stage but crumble under fact-checking and real-world experience.

He has repeatedly described Democrat-led cities such as Chicago and Portland as “war zones” or “under siege.” Local officials and residents say that picture is false. Chicago is not a battlefield. Portland is not a war-ravaged wasteland. Crime exists, yes, but those cities are full of people going to work, running businesses, and raising families. His exaggerated descriptions only deepen division and spread fear.

Trump has also talked about sending National Guard troops and federal officers into these cities to restore order. That military presence has hurt local economies. In places where troops have been stationed downtown or near shopping districts, foot traffic has dropped. Customers stay away because they feel uneasy. Business owners have spoken about empty stores, delayed deliveries, and the sense that their neighborhoods are occupied instead of supported. The show of force may look like control, but it costs small business owners money and peace of mind.

Then there are the economic claims. Trump continues to celebrate tariffs as a win for America, saying foreign countries are paying for them. Economists from both sides of the aisle agree that tariffs are actually paid by U.S. importers and passed down to consumers. That means higher prices for household goods, clothing, and food. The cost lands on us, not on the countries he blames.

He also says inflation is over, that grocery and utility prices are falling, and that Americans should be grateful for the “boom.” But government data tells another story. Food, rent, and power bills are still up compared with just two years ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to record price increases across nearly every category. Families are spending more to buy less, and that is the truth no matter how it is spun.

Gas prices are another talking point. Trump claimed fuel had dropped to $1.98 per gallon in some states, but national averages never came close to that this year. Analysts say that short-term dips were isolated and temporary. Most Americans are still paying significantly more at the pump than they did before.

Each of these stories is told with absolute certainty, as if repeating them enough times will make them real. But anyone living through this moment can see the gap between the speeches and the streets. When your grocery total doubles, when your rent goes up, when the shop on the corner closes because customers are afraid to come downtown, no amount of talking points can erase what you know.

This is not a thriving economy for working people. It is survival mode dressed up as success. Telling the public that things are great when their pockets say otherwise is not leadership. It is denial.

Reality cannot be rewritten. Prices are rising. Businesses are suffering. People are tired. We deserve leaders who tell the truth and understand what everyday Americans are facing. Until that happens, all the talk about “booming” numbers will just be more noise drowning out the sound of real struggle.