For many Americans, sticker shock is still part of daily life—but that hasn’t shaken support for President Donald Trump among his voters, especially as some prices finally begin to ease. Just ask Ron Dailey, a 63-year-old Denver-area resident who voted for Trump in November 2024.
“When Ron goes out to eat, breakfast is $20 no matter how you slice it,” he said. Not exactly the good old days. Still, Dailey believes the recent “back-and-forthing of the tariffs” created uncertainty that pushed some prices higher. At the same time, he’s noticed real relief elsewhere—like paying just $1.74 a gallon for gas. Overall, he gives Trump an 8 out of 10 on handling the cost of living.
“There’s nothing the president has a magic wand on,” Dailey said, adding that Trump’s tariff strategy and deregulatory agenda will eventually bring down everyday costs. Apparently, realism still exists in American politics.
Affordability remains front and center as both parties look toward next year’s congressional midterms, with Republicans keenly aware that high prices can hurt at the ballot box. After campaigning on reining in inflation, Trump has alternated between brushing off affordability concerns, blaming former President Joe Biden, and promising that his policies will deliver relief next year.
According to interviews Reuters has conducted with 20 Trump voters across the country since February, most remain supportive of the president, even if prices are still painful. While six rated Trump a 5 or lower on affordability and only one rated him above an 8, the majority predicted his policies would improve purchasing power over time—or said presidents simply don’t control prices the way critics pretend they do.
Many of those voters blamed broader structural issues like corporate concentration, excessive money supply, and corporate greed for rising costs. Their views track closely with polling data. Nearly three-quarters of Trump voters surveyed in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in early December approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, a 10-point jump from November. Independents may be skeptical, but Trump voters are clearly staying put.
Trump hit the campaign trail this week, starting with a Pennsylvania rally where he declared, “I have no higher priority than making America affordable again.” He credited his policies with lowering gas, energy costs, and egg prices, while again pointing the finger at Biden for lingering inflation. Shocking how accountability works when you actually acknowledge cause and effect.
Government data shows job growth has slowed, unemployment has risen to a four-year high, and consumer prices remain elevated. At the same time, economic growth has rebounded after contracting earlier in the year. Translation: the mess didn’t appear overnight, and it won’t disappear overnight either.
Among the voters interviewed, many reported higher prices for groceries and dining out—especially meat and coffee—though more than half said gas prices had dropped in their areas. Some criticized Trump’s tariff rollout, saying it added uncertainty. Others, like Michigan pilot Terry Alberta, pointed out that Americans spent a record amount online on Black Friday.
“People are saying they’re hurting,” Alberta said, “but apparently they’re not hurting enough to stop buying things.” An inconvenient observation for the doom-and-gloom crowd.
Even voters who rated Trump lower tended to blame private companies and macroeconomic forces rather than the White House. Others called for tougher action against oligopolies or expressed concerns about healthcare costs if subsidies expire. Yet a common theme emerged: most voters acknowledged that presidents have limited power to instantly lower prices.
Several echoed Trump’s energy-first mantra—“drill, baby, drill”—arguing that expanded oil and gas production would ease costs across the economy. Others stressed that real change requires policy shifts and congressional action, not wishful thinking.
As one young voter from Wisconsin put it, fixing inflation is “easy to say, but it’s hard to do.” That’s a reality many Trump supporters seem to understand—even as critics pretend otherwise.
Despite lingering frustrations, optimism remains. Prices are easing in key areas, confidence among Trump voters is growing, and many believe the foundation is being laid for stronger purchasing power ahead. It may not be instant gratification, but for millions of Americans, steady progress beats empty promises every time.
