Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asserted that the current cost-of-living crisis is so severe that traditional money-saving methods are no longer sufficient, and accused the Trump administration of worsening the situation. The New York Democrat told Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent for the MeidasTouch Network, that the crisis impacts "everyday middle-class people."
"This isn’t just going to the grocery store and buying the generic cereal, and switching over," Ocasio-Cortez said. She questioned how individuals are expected to manage when faced with unaffordable medicine or housing costs.
When asked if the Trump administration was addressing the issue seriously, Ocasio-Cortez responded, "No, they are making it worse because what the Trump administration is doing is that they are entering sweetheart deal after sweetheart deal." She alleged that multiple agreements made by the Trump White House have failed to provide tangible benefits to average Americans.
MacFarlane shared Ocasio-Cortez's remarks shortly after reports indicated that a key Federal Reserve inflation gauge reached a three-year high in May. This increase was partly attributed to rising gas prices, which were influenced by the conflict in Iran.
The journalist noted that "the cost crisis is a political albatross for Team Trump.. and endangers GOP majorities in November."