Donald Trump has been grilled on the cost-of-living crisis as a political pundit joked the president is "writing I.O.U.s."
The Daily Show's Josh Johnson said "it's rough out there" for Americans thanks to rising grocery, rent, and electricity prices which are yet to be tackled by the Trump administration. The president has made several posts to Truth Social about rebates for Americans, including a $10,000 gift to air traffic controllers who worked through the government shutdown.
Trump has also suggested a $2,000 stipend for Americans across the country, and has also shared a handful of details on a 50-year mortgage payment scheme. These comments from Trump led to Johnson dubbing the president "money man" and saying that he was writing I.O.U.s rather than fixing the economy.
Johnson said, "Trump can't stop writing I.O.Us. We all know the economy isn't great right now. Rent is too expensive, grocery prices are too high... it's rough out there, so no wonder last week Democrats won a ton of elections by running on affordability. That sent Trump into a little bit of a tailspin."
The Daily Show Headlines host also took aim at the proposed 50-year mortgage plan. He said, "After interest, a $400,000 mortgage is going to cost me 1.3 million dollars. That is the opposite of affordability. This man [Trump] is creating generational debt."
Trump had previously proposed giving Americans $2,000 but this plan, which the president posted about on Truth Social earlier this week, could create a $300 billion hole in his economic plan. Trump claimed "a dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone."
But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has walked back the claim of a direct $2,000 payment, instead suggesting there could be "substantial" reductions in taxes on tips or overtime, rather than a stimulus check.
Bessent said, "It could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the president’s agenda. You know, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. Deductibility of auto loans. So, you know, those are substantial deductions that, you know, are being financed in the tax bill."
Trump also said he will be "recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country" for air traffic controllers who worked through the government shutdown. Some workers furloughed during the 41-day shutdown resorted to delivering food or donating plasma to make ends meet.
