Trump Admits Cutting Grocery Prices Will Be ‘Very Hard’ Despite Campaign Promise

President-elect Donald Trump, who emphasized his vow to slash grocery prices during his presidential campaign, is now acknowledging the challenge of fulfilling this promise. In a recent interview with *Time* magazine—which named him Person of the Year for 2024—Trump stated that while he remains optimistic about lowering food costs, achieving this goal will be difficult.

“Look, they got them up. I want to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s tough,” Trump said in the interview, published Thursday. Despite the uphill battle, he expressed confidence that lower energy costs and improvements to the supply chain could eventually reduce grocery prices.

Campaign Promise Under Scrutiny
During his campaign, Trump made reducing food bills a central theme, resonating with voters frustrated by skyrocketing inflation-related grocery prices. However, he now acknowledges that reversing the trend may not happen quickly.

Asked whether failing to lower grocery prices would define his presidency as a failure, Trump rejected the notion. Instead, he pointed to the Biden administration, accusing it of mismanaging inflation and leaving behind structural issues that exacerbated the cost of food.

“The supply chain is still broken. It’s broken,” he said, emphasizing the role of logistical inefficiencies in driving up costs.

A Plan for Energy and Supply Chain Reform
Trump highlighted two key strategies for addressing grocery prices: boosting domestic energy production and repairing the supply chain.

“I think that energy is going to bring them down. I think a better supply chain is going to bring them down,” Trump explained. He has pledged to expand American energy production, which is already at record levels, as part of a broader strategy to stabilize costs and foster economic growth.

Blame on Biden Administration

Throughout the interview, Trump repeatedly criticized the Biden administration, holding it responsible for creating the economic environment that led to high food prices. “They got them up,” Trump said, asserting that his administration would prioritize solutions to alleviate the financial burden on American families.

Public Expectations and Political Implications

Trump’s comments mark a shift from the definitive promises made during his campaign, signaling a more tempered approach as he prepares to take office. The acknowledgment of the difficulties ahead could set the stage for public skepticism or patience, depending on the outcomes of his proposed policies.

Lowering grocery prices remains a high-stakes issue for the incoming administration. With Americans struggling under inflationary pressures, the ability to deliver on this promise could significantly impact Trump’s political standing and his administration’s perceived success.

As Trump prepares to assume the presidency, the challenge of combating inflation and ensuring economic relief for millions of Americans will likely remain at the forefront of his agenda.