'People aren't dumb': Republicans worry they're not doing enough on affordability

GOP Leaders Sound Alarm on Affordability Strategy Amid Frustrations with Trump's Handling of Issue.

The Republican Party is re-evaluating its approach to addressing affordability concerns among Americans, with many lawmakers expressing frustration over President Donald Trump's sometimes cavalier attitude toward the subject. The issue has become a pressing concern for Republicans ahead of the midterms, as they seek to maintain their tenuous majorities in Congress.

Some key Republican senators and representatives have publicly voiced their discontent, warning that if their party doesn't sharpen its message on affordability, it risks losing ground with voters. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, stated that Democrats "failed to really hammer the economy, and it cost them the election." He added that Republicans must do better to address affordability concerns or risk facing similar electoral losses.

More than 20 Republican senators and representatives have expressed concerns about their party's handling of affordability in interviews with NBC News. Some acknowledged the issue but said the party will settle on a strategy to tackle it. Others, like Sen. Josh Hawley, are calling for a pivot, emphasizing that delivering real results on lower costs and growing wages is crucial.

Hawley explained that "people aren't dumb" and know when they go to the grocery store what it costs and what it doesn't. He added, "They know what their rent costs... And they can’t afford it. And they know that. So we’ve got to deliver."

A senior House Republican, granted anonymity, warned that relying on Trump's mega law won't assuage affordability concerns, arguing that many Americans don't understand the bill and its provisions.

Meanwhile, President Trump has repeatedly dismissed affordability as a "hoax," which has frustrated some Republicans. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that prices are high but blamed Democrats for not immediately solving affordability problems caused by their policies.

The Republican Party is facing challenges in addressing voters' perceptions about the economy, with many Americans still feeling the squeeze from inflation, interest rates, and a tightening job market. Rep. Ryan Zinke said the economy needs to feel better, and that means lowering interest rates and tariffs resulting in trade deals.

While some Republicans have proposed ideas like allowing out-of-pocket spending on insurance premiums to be deducted from taxes or creating a $25,000 deduction for medical expenses, it remains unclear whether their party will be able to pass meaningful affordability legislation before the midterms.

think its a big deal when politicians start saying "people aren't dumb" lol its like they're implying that americans are ignorant or something meanwhile real talk affordability is a complex issue and theres no magic bullet solution. its not gonna be solved by just lowering interest rates or tariffs, thats easy to say but what about the root causes? healthcare costs, wages, etc are all interlinked and need a comprehensive approach. we should stop looking for quick fixes and start having serious conversations about how we can make affordability more accessible for everyone

Ugh, can you even believe this? GOP leaders are finally waking up to the fact that Trump's handling of affordability is a total disaster ! Like, come on guys, it's not rocket science - people know what their rent costs and they know when they're getting ripped off at the grocery store. And yet Trump just keeps dismissing it as some kind of "hoax" . And now we've got these senators and reps freaking out because they can't even agree on a strategy to tackle affordability, but meanwhile Trump's just sitting over there like "I've got this under control"... NOT .

And don't even get me started on the fact that most of them are too scared to speak up about it. Like, Rep Gonzales says Democrats lost the election because they didn't hammer home the economy, but where is their party's message? It's like they're just waiting for someone else to come along and save them . Newsflash: affordability isn't some partisan issue, it's an economic crisis that affects EVERYONE.

And what really gets me is that these lawmakers are trying to pawn off Trump's mega law as some kind of solution . Like, seriously? Nobody understands the bill and its provisions, and now they're expecting people to just trust that it'll magically solve all our problems? Give me a break!

Republicans need to step up their game, it's not rocket science , if they want to win back voters on affordability. Trump's dismissive attitude isn't helping . If people can see the cost of groceries and rent, shouldn't they know what's going on with prices? It's time for a more serious approach

OMG , I'm so done with Trump's "hoax" label over affordability issues . Like, come on, he needs to take this seriously & stop downplaying the concerns of everyday Americans . The fact that more than 20 Republican senators & reps are frustrated with his handling is huge , and I'm not surprised .

It's time for the GOP to get its act together & come up with some real solutions , like lowering interest rates & tariffs, which would help ease the squeeze on people's wallets . The fact that Rep. Ryan Zinke is saying we need a better economy means we're already behind . It's not just about passing legislation, but also changing perceptions of the economy .

I'm loving Sen. Josh Hawley's point about delivering real results on lower costs & growing wages , and Rep. Tony Gonzales' assessment that Democrats failed to address affordability is spot on . This midterms are gonna be a battle for the GOP, but if they can get their messaging right, maybe, just maybe we'll see some positive change .

GOP leaders are totally lost when it comes to affordability like they're thinking it's just gonna magically fix itself, but nope! they need to step up and propose some real solutions not just blaming Democrats for everything . And Trump's constant dismissal of the issue is just gonna make things worse . The people aren't dumb, as Josh Hawley said but they do know when they're being taken advantage of . We need concrete proposals and not just empty promises .

The midterms are coming up and if Republicans don't get their act together on affordability, they'll be in big trouble . It's time to put aside party politics and work towards solutions that benefit everyone . I'm keeping an eye on what the GOP comes up with next and I hope it's something real

LOL what's going on with the GOP ? They're all over the place on this affordability thing! Like, Rep Gonzales is saying Democrats got creamed in '22 and now it's time for Republicans to step up their game... but then you got Sen Hawley just calling BS on Trump's handling of it . And what's with Trump dismissing affordability like it's a joke? "It's a hoax" . Meanwhile, the party is all like "oh no, we need to do better"... where's the action plan, guys? The economy is still a mess and people are feeling the pinch. Can't they just have one conversation about affordability without Trump interrupting?

I don’t usually comment but... I think the GOP needs to get real about affordability . It's like they're trying to tackle this massive issue with a bunch of tweaks and ideas that aren't gonna make a dent in people's wallets . They need to take a step back, listen to what Americans are saying (and it sounds like most are still feeling the squeeze), and figure out what they can actually do to help . It's not just about delivering results on lower costs and growing wages; it's also about being honest with people about why prices are high in the first place . And, tbh, I don't think Trump's dismissive attitude is helping . The GOP needs to get its messaging together if they wanna keep voters from switching sides .

Affordability's a big deal right now, feels like the GOP's all over the place on how to tackle it Trump's handling's been super sketchy, and I get why some are getting frustrated . It's not just about hammering the economy, it's about delivering real results . Republicans need to focus on making affordability work for people, not just throwing out words like "hoax" . The fact is, people know what they're paying and can't afford it, so we need solutions that actually help

I guess the GOP is finally realizing that Trump's handling of affordability isn't exactly Nobel Prize material ‍. I mean, come on, calling it a "hoax" and then expecting voters to believe you're going to magically make prices lower? Please, like that's gonna happen . I think they need to take a deep breath, put aside their differences, and figure out what the heck is really going on with affordability. And honestly, I'm a bit curious to see if any of these proposed ideas actually work out . I mean, who wouldn't want to deduct medical expenses from their taxes? It sounds like a sweet deal !

I'm tellin' ya, back in my day we didn't have all these fancy politicians and parties, but you know what? We still managed to make ends meet . Nowadays it's like they're all talkin' about this "affordability" thingy, but nobody's really doin' anythin' about it . I mean, come on, if they can't even get it right with Trump at the helm, what's gonna happen when he's gone? It's like they're tryin' to make a whole bunch of new problems instead of fixin' the old ones . And don't even get me started on this "pivot" business... sounds like just a fancy way of sayin' "we don't know what we're doin'" . What's good for the country is all I care about, not all these party politics and backroom deals

idk how trump can dismiss affordability as a hoax when ppl r struggling 2 make ends meet he needs 2 acknowledge the issue & come up with some actual solutions instead of just talking what's worse is that some republicans r more concerned w/ pleasing trump than actually helping ppl the midterms are gonna be interesting, especially if affordability isn't on the agenda

The whole thing about the GOP and affordability feels kinda crazy to me... I mean, can't they just have one plan? It's like they're all fighting about different strategies instead of working together on this. Trump is saying it's a hoax, but some people in his party are getting frustrated with him for not taking it seriously enough. Meanwhile, the Democrats aren't doing much better. They're blaming their policies and now the GOP is trying to fill that gap. It's all kinda confusing

I think the GOP's struggle with affordability is quite telling, don't you? It highlights the tension between the party's economic orthodoxy and the rapidly changing expectations of voters. The fact that Trump has dismissed affordability as a "hoax" only serves to underscore the disconnect between the party's messaging and the concerns of its base. I wonder if Republicans are underestimating the power of grassroots pressure on this issue... It seems like they're still trying to navigate their way through the complexities of the economy, with some suggesting a pivot towards more pragmatic solutions that prioritize affordability. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out ahead of the midterms!

I'm telling ya, this whole affordability thing is just becoming too hot to handle for the GOP . They're scrambling around like headless chickens, trying to figure out how to tackle it without getting roasted by Trump or alienating their base. Meanwhile, Americans are still struggling to make ends meet, and they're not exactly thrilled with what they see from the other side of the aisle . I mean, come on, 25k deduction for medical expenses? That's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound . And don't even get me started on Trump's dismissive attitude – if he really believed affordability was a hoax, maybe that's why his party is having so much trouble making it work . We'll see what happens before the midterms, but for now, it just looks like more of the same old noise

omg i feel so bad for these republicans they're getting torn apart by trump's handling of affordability like how can you dismiss something that affects literally every single person in this country? at least some of them are trying to come up with real solutions like lowering interest rates and tariffs would be a huge help i hope they can figure out a way to address the economy without blaming democrats for everything