WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican strategist Karl Rove sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Friday for portraying the U.S. economy as booming while many Americans continue to face elevated prices, particularly for gasoline and other essentials.
“The president made a mistake, in my opinion, last week in saying we’ve got the greatest economy in the history of the world and prices for groceries and gasoline and everything are coming down rapidly,” Rove told Fox News. “That’s not the experience of the American people.”
Rove said Trump should “start by not gaslighting” voters about their economic circumstances, even as the president continues to point to Wall Street performance as evidence of economic strength.
The criticism comes as the war with Iran has driven gasoline prices above $4 per gallon nationally. Trump acknowledged the increase Friday, telling Americans they should accept paying more because the conflict is intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Gasoline was averaging about $4.08 per gallon, roughly 29% higher than a year earlier, Reuters reported.
Consumer sentiment is also deteriorating. The University of Michigan’s August measure fell 7.6%, with rising fuel and food costs weighing particularly heavily on lower-income households. Inflation remained at 3.4% in July.
Rove’s comments highlight a growing political problem for Trump: strong financial markets do not necessarily translate into lower household expenses, and voters experiencing higher everyday costs may be difficult to persuade otherwise.
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