As the prices of groceries and energy continue to soar, many supporters of President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania are rebelling over what they see as the president’s broken promises to lower costs.
“I feel like it's only gotten worse!” said Jenique Jones, who lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a community frequently cited as a bellwether for presidential elections, speaking with CNN’s John King in a report Friday.
Trump had leaned heavily on reducing costs in the leadup to the 2024 presidential election, pleading to end inflation “on day one,” and to “bring down the prices of all goods.” Costs have not gone down, however, and have only increased since the president took office in January.
Jones, who voted for Trump three times, was asked by King if she believed Trump had “fixed” soaring prices.
“Absolutely not,” Jones said. “I’m definitely waiting for him to fix it… I’m very let down by that, very, very let down.”
Others, like Ronald Corales, who also voted for Trump three times, was more optimistic in his assessment of the economy under a second Trump administration, while admitting that the president had yet to make good on his promises to reduce costs.
King asked Corales if Trump had made good on his pledge to reduce costs: “well, hopefully soon,” Corales said.
“But it hasn’t happened yet?” King asked.
“Not really, we don’t see it at the moment,” Corales said. “I think we have to give him some time.”
According to King, grocery costs in Bethlehem have increased by 8% when compared to 2024, and housing costs by nearly 6%.
The community swung right in 2024 to back Trump, having backed the winning presidential candidate in all but three instances over the past 125 years. Trump’s victory in the community was narrow, however, besting former Vice President Kamala Harris by just 3,880 votes, and based on the outcry of Trump supporters in the city over rising costs, 2028 could potentially fare poorly for Republicans.
