Gene Sperling, Guest Columnist

The Affordability Crisis Is Real and Tariffs Caused It

December 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM UTC

Corrected

December 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM UTC

Gene Sperling was director of the National Economic Council under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and was a senior adviser to President Joe Biden.

That better be a good kiwi.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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President Donald Trump traveled to Pennsylvania last week to double down on his economic messages: The affordability concerns of Americans are a Democratic “hoax” and if anyone is unhappy, it's a Blame Biden Economy.

A more fitting description would be the Trump Self-Inflicted Wound Economy.