Trump's bold economic promises on the campaign trail have led to a policy salad

Economic Performance - Food prices have risen faster during Trump's first year back in office compared to Biden's last year, contradicting his promise to lower grocery costs [1][3] - Household energy prices increased by 7.3% under Trump, more than double the rate during Biden's last year [3] - A significant portion of Americans, 49%, believe the economy is worse than a year ago, with 54% disapproving of Trump's economic management [5] Policy Proposals - Trump's proposals include capping credit card interest rates, which may limit access to credit for higher-risk borrowers [8] - Plans to cut housing costs, such as barring investors from buying single-family homes, could negatively impact residential construction and increase housing costs over time [9] - Some proposals, like launching a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chair, appear disconnected from economic realities [10] Political Strategy - Trump's approach includes a mix of incoherent policy proposals aimed at signaling solidarity with distressed voters, straying from traditional Republican free-market principles [12] - Historical context suggests that tapping into voter grievances can be effective, as seen in Trump's previous campaign promises that resonated with working-class voters [15] - The current political landscape reflects a shift from prioritizing economic efficiency to addressing the concerns of communities adversely affected by globalization [14]