Distractions, distractions
Opinion by Ben Everidge for Thomas
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock by Atchariya63
iF WE CARE TO NOTICE …
Political independents in large numbers gave their support and vote to Donald Trump in 2024 but have been alarmed in 2025 at the unrestrained drama in Washington that is providing too many distractions for the average American to notice that President Trump 47 is not fulfilling his campaign promise to make a difference for U.S. families in managing the frustratingly high cost of living.
In the second term of his presidency, the President approved executive orders faster than anyone could obviously follow. During his 2024 campaign, the President pledged to swiftly reduce the cost of living, including food and housing expenses. However, since taking office, his administration has implemented policies that are actually worsening these issues for the American voter.
As a result of the ineffective solutions voters expected to see improvement on by now, President Trump has resorted to what Trump has long been known to do in situations such as this: use spectacle and controversy to dominate the news cycle, overshadowing substantive policy discussions or failures in the meantime.
There is growing public discontent regarding President Trump’s thus far unfulfilled promises to lower living costs. Protests at Republican lawmaker town halls in GOP/MAGA-dominated congressional districts and critical letters from lawmakers highlight the rapidly increasing frustration over the administration's focus on issues perceived as distractions from pressing economic concerns.
Consider, for example, the following distractions Mr. Trump has plied the voting public with since taking office, as egg prices, gasoline, and the cost of living have continued to rise unabated:
DOGE Firings and Threats – President Trump told us during the campaign season that he was going to use the wealthiest man in the world to help advise him and Congress on how his Administration might address and correct the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in government that is driving up our national debt and annoying Americans who believe in overwhelming numbers that the federal government does not work for them anymore. Instead, DOGE (the Department of Governmental Efficiency Service), under Elon Musk’s leadership, has jumped the advisory gun and fired federal workers without consulting the agency leadership they really work for in Washington and communities around the country.
Controversial Cabinet Appointments – The President has nominated, and the United States Senate, in many cases, already has approved, cabinet secretaries are frequently accused of being weak in experience and sometimes flawed ethically. These appointments have led to many media stories exploring how and why they are a poor or controversial choice. Many are asking, how can weak or flawed cabinet secretaries help ensure better government for our citizens? Don’t we need cabinet secretaries above reproach and the best in the fields to fix our failing government?
Constitutional and Legal Overstep – the 47th president of the United States has been defying Congress and the courts through his executive orders that are clearly extra-constitutional and legally unfeasible. The courts and the media are aghast at Mr. Trump’s brazen bravado, but few can predict just yet how these actions by Mr. Trump are going to settle out. In the meantime, the legal and constitutional challenges are mounting, and no clear scorecard is available to see who is winning the debate and who is losing.
Questionable Shifting Alliances – Mr. Trump, for example, has accused President Zelenskyy of Ukraine of being a dictator and blamed the Russian invasion and war on Ukraine. The United States even voted with Russia to deny a United Nations resolution supported by our European allies condemning Russia for invading Ukraine and starting the war without justification. The rest of the world is scratching their collective heads about what the United States was thinking. Still, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the true dictator, is giddy over Mr. Trump’s support and praising him for his opposition to the war in Ukraine.
Trade Policies and Tariffs - The administration has imposed tariffs on imports from key trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, and China. These tariffs, intended to protect domestic industries, have led to increased production costs for goods reliant on imported materials. Consequently, consumers face higher prices on everyday items, including groceries and housing materials. For instance, tariffs on steel and aluminum have raised construction costs, potentially driving up housing prices. The American public expects Trump to reduce the cost of housing, not drive it up.
Inconsistent Immigration Policies - Strict immigration policies have resulted in labor shortages in sectors like agriculture and construction, which heavily depend on immigrant workers. These shortages can lead to decreased productivity and increased labor costs, further elevating prices for food and housing.
Regulatory Focus - While the administration has prioritized deregulation and tax cuts, these measures have not directly addressed the immediate concerns of rising living costs. Efforts to dismantle consumer protection agencies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, may undermine safeguards designed to protect consumers from unfair practices, potentially leading to higher costs.
Public Sentiment - While the administration has undertaken various policy initiatives, these actions may not effectively address - and could potentially worsen - the high food and housing costs. The focus on trade protectionism, stringent immigration enforcement, and deregulation divert attention from implementing comprehensive solutions to many Americans' economic challenges.
If Mr. Trump is signing what seems to the American voter to be lower-priority executive orders at a rapid pace, it could serve multiple purposes for Mr. Trump and his Administration:
Mr. Trump is Hoping This Flurry of Activity is Overloading the Media and Public Attention - By pushing out a flurry of executive actions; he can create a sense of chaos or urgency that keeps people from focusing on specific, tangible issues like rising costs of eggs, housing, or wages.
Polarization as a Strategy – Controversial policies and statements keep people locked in partisan fights, distracting from bipartisan economic concerns. If people are busy arguing over culture wars or political scandals, they’re less likely to organize effectively around economic solutions.
Deflection from Congressional Confusion on What To Do Next - If President Trump isn’t pushing Congress to pass meaningful reforms, executive orders can create the appearance of action without actually addressing structural economic problems like housing affordability or food inflation.
Stock Market and Donor Interests Benefit - Many financial and real estate interests benefit from the status quo. If policies that could genuinely lower housing costs or food prices would cut into corporate profits, Trump may prioritize executive actions that favor those industries instead.
Rapid executive actions, as we have seen in the first month of Mr. Trump’s second presidency, can and do create legal and bureaucratic battles, shifting public focus away from kitchen-table issues and more toward political drama.
It is now more critical than ever that Americans keep the pressure on Mr. Trump and his Administration to deliver first on those campaign promises he made last year to reduce the cost of living for all American households and stop the open borders between Mexico and the United States and the United States and Canada.
Mr. Trump is making progress on the immigration challenge. Still, he is doing a lousy job so far on protecting the average American’s bank account from the ravages of inflation and greed.
It’s game on time. Don’t let the intentional distractions distract you, America?