Lowering Costs Caucus Leaders Push Back on President Trump’s “Affordability Hoax” Comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Co-Chairs of the Lowering Costs Caucus, Representatives Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Greg Landsman (D-OH), and Derek Tran (D-CA), pushed back against President Trump's recent comments claiming that the affordability crisis is a hoax. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Trump claimed that affordability "doesn't mean anything to anybody," and that rising costs are a "fake narrative" created by Democrats.

"Make no mistake: the affordability crisis is real, and it is crippling the American dream. The only people who don't realize that are the out of touch billionaires that the president continues to put before American families," said Rep. Scholten. "I founded this caucus so that like-minded members of Congress could come together and focus on solutions that will lower everyday costs for hardworking American families. We are going to continue doing that every day."

"The affordability crisis didn't start 10 months ago - families have been feeling this for years. But this administration has made it worse, from cutting healthcare to pushing sweeping tariffs that drive up prices," said Rep. Landsman. "The Lowering Costs Caucus is focused on fixing what's broken and building an economy that works for the vast majority of Americans, not just the super-wealthy."

"We founded the Lowering Costs Caucus because affordability is not a slogan - it's a call to action. President Trump's claim that 'affordability doesn't mean anything to anybody' is an insult to the millions of American families who are struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table. Affordability means everything to the parents working multiple jobs, seniors living on fixed incomes, and young people trying to build their future," saidRep. Tran. "Washington politics as usual isn't working. Americans are working harder than ever just to scrape by, and instead of listening to their concerns, President Trump is shutting them out. I'll keep fighting to challenge the status quo keeping American families stuck, and deliver real economic relief to our communities."

As the holiday season begins, families continue to face rising costs from groceries to electronics. This year, staple items such as coffee and beef have risen by double digits compared to 2024 prices. The price of computers, smartphones, and gaming consoles has also spiked, in large part due to the President's reckless trade policies implemented earlier this year. Moreover, new estimates show that achieving the American Dream - including a comfortable retirement, owning a home, raising children, purchasing a vehicle, and obtaining quality health care - now costs more than $5 million over a lifetime. This puts the American Dream out of reach for many families, including some with college-educated earners.

The Congressional Lowering Costs Caucus is committed to uplifting commonsense legislation that delivers meaningful economic relief for hard-working families. Most recently, members of the Caucus sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. The premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year, which could make millions unable to afford their health insurance plans.

The group consists of 13 members of Congress, including Reps. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03, Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Haley Stevens (MI-11).