Trump Highlights ‘Affordability’ as Economic Pressures Mount
U.S. President Donald Trump is shifting his economic message toward **“affordability”** as Americans continue to face pressure from high borrowing costs and elevated living expenses.[3] The move comes amid growing voter frustration over day-to-day costs, even as headline inflation has not recently surged.[3]
Reviving a campaign pledge, Trump has proposed a **one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates**, framing it as a way to save consumers tens of billions of dollars.[3] The idea has drawn immediate resistance from parts of the financial industry, which has traditionally been an ally of his administration.[3]
Proposed Credit Card Rate Cap Raises Policy and Industry Questions
Trump outlined the 10% credit card interest cap in a social media post but did not specify whether he intends to pursue it through executive action or legislation.[3] One Republican senator said he has spoken with the president and is ready to work on a bill with Trump’s “full support,” though key details remain unclear.[3]
The White House has not publicly answered questions about how such a cap would be implemented or whether it has consulted with major credit card companies.[3] Industry groups and lenders are expected to challenge the proposal, arguing it could disrupt credit markets and access to unsecured consumer loans.
Mortgage Bond Purchases and Housing Market Intervention
Beyond consumer credit, Trump is also turning to the **housing market** as part of his affordability push.[3] He has ordered his representatives to buy **$200 billion in mortgage bonds** in an effort to bring down housing costs and ease pressure on homebuyers and owners with mortgages.[3]
Trump has additionally called for **barring large investors from buying more single-family homes**, a move aimed at curbing investor-driven price increases in many housing markets.[3] The combined measures reflect growing political concern over housing affordability, especially for younger and lower-income households.
Weak Job Growth Highlights Economic Crosswinds
The administration’s pivot comes as new labor market data show a **sharp slowdown in job creation**.[2] The U.S. added only **50,000 jobs in December**, capping the weakest year for job growth since the pandemic, with a total of 584,000 jobs created in 2025 compared with about 2 million in 2024.[2]
While the unemployment rate ticked down to **4.4%**, economists note that the pace of hiring has softened, and some sectors are pulling back.[2] PBS NewsHour reported that the numbers are feeding debate over whether the Federal Reserve should continue cutting interest rates in early 2026 to support the slowing economy.[2]
Fed Policy and Political Pressure Over Economic Performance
Economists interviewed on PBS suggested that weak hiring and cooling economic momentum could give the Fed justification for **one or more additional rate cuts** early this year.[2] Lower benchmark rates could help ease some borrowing costs but may not fully offset structural affordability concerns in housing, healthcare, and consumer credit.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to tariffs and other measures as tools to reshape the economy, but analysts say his **tariff policy has raised costs for many businesses** even without triggering an immediate broad-based inflation spike.[3] That tension—between political promises on affordability and the real cost pressures from tariffs and tight credit—has become a focal point for markets and voters.
Public Approval on the Economy Slides
Recent polling underscores the political stakes of these economic decisions. In December, **only about one in three U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy**, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey cited in recent coverage.[3] Republican strategists are increasingly worried that persistent affordability complaints could hurt the party in the 2026 midterm elections.[3]
Trump has at times dismissed affordability concerns as a partisan “hoax,” but the latest policy announcements signal recognition that high costs remain a potent issue for many households.[3] The credit card cap and mortgage bond purchase plan will likely face intense scrutiny in Congress, on Wall Street, and from consumer advocates.
International Economic Ripples: U.S. Moves in Venezuela and Cuba’s Struggle
Beyond domestic policy, U.S. actions abroad are also shaping economic stories in the region. NPR reported on expert concerns about whether **Cuba’s economy can recover from U.S. intervention in Venezuela’s oil industry**, which has been a crucial lifeline for Havana.[4] Changes in Venezuelan oil flows linked to U.S. policy decisions have left Cuba facing fuel shortages and knock-on effects across its already fragile economy.[4]
While this development centers on Latin America, it highlights how **U.S. economic and foreign policy decisions reverberate through global energy markets** and regional stability.[4] For U.S. audiences, it adds another layer to the broader debate over how American economic power is deployed abroad at a moment of domestic anxiety over jobs, prices, and affordability.
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