U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as his supporters gather beneath the stage wearing TRUMP 47 jerseys as he delivers his remarks on the "Trump Accounts" tax-advantaged investment program at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, U.S., July 22, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
One of President Donald Trump's jokes at a rally in Georgia wasn't well received on CNN.
Trump spoke at a high school in Marietta, Georgia, a wealthy Atlanta suburb, on Wednesday about issues ranging from the upcoming Georgia Governor's race to the 2026 midterms. But one joke he made about an issue that most Americans care about stunned panelists on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront."
Trump went through a spiel about the issues his administration faced when he entered office, one of which was a term he claimed to have never heard before his first press conference.
"First time Iheard it, it was a word, youknow, made up by the Democrats: 'affordability,'" Trump said to a silent crowd. "They said, 'affordability.' I said, 'I'vebeen here one day. Don't worry,I'll take care of it.' And we'retaking care of it."
Host Erin Burnett described the joke as "stunning."
Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News host, did not mince words in her response.
"None of that is true," Carlson said. "Hedoesn't want to talk about theeconomy right now, but if youlook at every single poll, it'sstill the number one issue thatpeople will vote on. So, affordability is not a hoax."
Carlson also took Trump to task for trying to blame the Biden administration for his economic woes.
"Youcan't continue to blame thiseconomy on Biden," she said. "President Trump promised that on his very first day in office, he would reduce prices for the American consumer. And until he startsfocusing on that, he is makingthe whole scenario for otherrepublicans in the midtermsincredibly treacherous."