President Donald Trump accidentally admitted his own war is fueling inflation during a rambling Oval Office appearance, a progressive analyst pointed out.
In a Tuesday episode of "The David Pakman Show," the host broke down clips of the president fielding reporters' questions after what he described as "multiple sleeping" moments during the event.
At one point, Trump promised prices would fall the moment the fighting stopped.
"What happens as soon as that war ends? Inflation is going to be eradicated. Totally," Trump said.
Pakman said that answer gave away more than Trump intended.
"There is an unintentionally revealing element to that answer, because Trump is arguing inflation is because of the war," Pakman said. "Well, the war is one that Trump singularly decided to pursue, an optional war, an ill-advised war, a misguided war."
He added that the president was effectively pleading guilty to making the problem worse.
"He's acknowledging something his administration is doing is contributing to that problem," Pakman said. "And so it's a problem he will solve after he created it."
Pakman also noted that "zero inflation isn't even the target," pointing out that the Federal Reserve aims for roughly 2 percent over the long run.
The same appearance saw Trump call Canada "one of the worst countries in the entire world" moments after praising China, and predict that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would soon come begging.
"They're going to come in, and they're going to say, sir, we are sorry, sir," Trump said. "They've treated the United States very, very badly."
Trump also touted his executive order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America," which Pakman said "doesn't mean we own it."
The president then renewed his pledge of $5,000 checks funded by tariffs, but only "if Republicans win the House and the Senate." Pakman said the math doesn't add up, citing an estimated $1.3 trillion price tag that tariff collections come nowhere close to covering. He also stressed that tariffs are paid by American importers, who pass most of the cost on to consumers.
"He could do it now, if the money is from profits," Pakman said.
Asked for his midterm message, Trump said Republicans are "running against communist lunatic socialists."
"That's completely demented," Pakman said. "This is pathetic and insane, and it should just be made into a campaign ad."