Nicolle Wallace shuts down key Trump claim about the economy

President Donald Trump's administration has continued to maintain that the economy during Trump's second term has been strong, even as prices for basic necessities continue to climb.

During a Tuesday segment, MS NOW host Nicolle Wallace contrasted the words of Trump administration figures like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with comments from ordinary Americans experiencing sticker shock at grocery stores. At the start of the segment, two separate Yonkers, New York residents — Lindsay Gottfried and Harryson Berrios — told MS NOW that "generally everything has gone up."

"I think generally everythinghas gone up," Gottfried said. "... Milkreally seems to fluctuate a lot."

"Just trying to stayup from inflation, working hardand making sure that the familyhas a good time," Berrios said when asked about his grocery shopping experience. "In a monthlybasis, it has gotten to $1,000 amonth for food, and trying torecover from everything thatgoes on."

Wallace then pivoted to a clip from NBC's Kristen Welker on Sunday's episode of "Meet the Press" telling Bessent that "inflation has gone up," adding that it was a full percentage point higher than when Trump first imposed his broad tariffs in April.

"So inflation hasn't gone up," Bessent responded. "And Kristen, the one thing thatwe're not going to do is dowhat the Biden administrationdid and tell the Americanpeople they don't know how theyfeel."

"That sound bite is next togaslighting in the dictionaryright now," Wallace said after playing the clip of Bessent's remarks. "And you know what?You can kill all the data youwant. People that go to the grocerystore, people that shop forclothes, people that shop forgoods, people that buystrollers, people that buy carseats, people that buy walkers, they know everything is moreexpensive."

Wallace additionally pointed out that the Trump administration has continued to lose the confidence of the American public in its handling of the economy. A Fox News poll conducted earlier this month found that Trump's disapproval rating had hit a record high of 58 percent, with broad majorities of Americans saying basic needs had gotten more expensive under his administration including groceries, utilities, healthcare and housing.

Watch the segment below:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com