Trump attorney Michael Cohen has sharply criticized Donald Trump’s recent focus on affordability, calling it “gaslighting on a national scale.” In a new Substack essay published Sunday, Cohen argued that Trump’s claims about lowering prices contradict his own economic record and policies.
Cohen, who once served as Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, said the president is attempting to rewrite his economic legacy by presenting himself as a champion of household affordability. He noted that Trump’s track record of imposing tariffs on essential imports like steel, timber, and foreign automobiles actually contributed to higher costs for American consumers.
“Donald Trump has never met a reality he couldn’t rewrite or a lie he couldn’t sell, but even by his standards, this new ‘affordability’ shtick is next-level absurd,” Cohen wrote. “We’re now watching the same man who slapped tariffs on everything short of Girl Scout cookies try to rebrand himself as America’s coupon clipper-in-chief. He’s out there insisting that prices are down, that life under Trump is cheaper, that you’re somehow better off; even as you stand in the checkout line wondering how your grocery bill just hit a new personal best.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent appearances that prices for groceries and everyday goods are falling, despite government data showing persistent inflation in several key sectors. Economists have noted that while inflation has slowed, prices remain significantly higher than before the pandemic, undermining Trump’s argument that his policies are making life more affordable.
Cohen compared Trump’s rhetoric to an arsonist pretending to be a firefighter. “Let’s get something straight: Trump’s newfound obsession with ‘affordability’ is like a pyromaniac lecturing the fire department,” Cohen argued. “His economic policies are the arsonists behind the very blaze he’s pretending to put out. He’s the guy who poured gasoline on inflation and now wants a medal for handing out paper cups of water.”
Cohen accused Trump of manipulating public perception by denying economic realities and repeating false claims until they gain traction. “It’s gaslighting at a national scale,” he added. “A reality distortion field so absurd it’d make Orwell’s head spin. But it’s also pure Trump: if you can’t fix it, deny it; if people don’t buy it, shout louder. And then, have your enablers repeat it over and over.”
Cohen’s essay is the latest in a series of public rebukes from Trump allies as the 2024 campaign season heats up. His remarks underscore growing criticism that Trump’s populist message on affordability doesn’t align with the economic consequences of his previous policies.