A Pennsylvania Republican kneecapped Donald Trump’s claim that prices are falling moments before the president was set to take the stage at a Mount Pocono rally. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, sworn into Congress in January, spoke to MAGA fans on Tuesday evening before Trump delivered remarks on the economy amid a nationwide squeeze on everyday goods.
After Mackenzie touted Republicans’ accomplishments on lowering Social Security taxes, the lawmaker offered an eyebrow-raising admission: the Trump administration and Republicans have not brought down prices. “There is more work to be done,” he said. “We know that’s not enough. We are not gonna rest on our laurels. We know so many people are struggling because of those prices from Joe Biden’s inflation. That does not mean that prices come down when we say that we have tamed inflation. It just means that we have stopped the rate of growth from that massive spending that was going on for four years.” He concluded, “We have a lot more work to be done.”
Trump, meanwhile, has repeated claims that prices of groceries, gasoline and other essentials have fallen as he hammers his affordability messaging. The moment at Mount Pocono underscores the tension between such messaging and what voters are actually paying at the store, a reminder that inflation battles are far from resolved.
The rally’s setup—a casino-resort venue in the Mount Pocono area—was designed to energize supporters as Trump looks to test and project an affordability comeback amid a crowded political landscape. As Mackenzie spoke, MAGA supporters applauded the broader GOP agenda while absorbing a candid acknowledgment that price relief is not yet a realized reality.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through the ads.