Two Very Different Views of the Same Economy

When President Donald Trump told Politico the U.S. economy deserves an "A+++++" grade, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had some thoughts. Strong thoughts, actually.

In a Tuesday post on X, Sanders laid out what he sees as the actual state of affairs. "Donald Trump says the economy is 'A+++++.' Really?" he wrote, before rattling off a series of numbers that paint a less rosy picture.

Sixty percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, Sanders noted, meaning most people have essentially zero cushion for unexpected expenses. About 800,000 Americans are currently homeless. Food prices have hit record highs, and wages aren't keeping pace with inflation.

His punchline: "God help us when we have a B+++++ economy."

The Data Backs Up the Skepticism

Sanders isn't alone in questioning Trump's economic report card. A new Morning Consult poll puts Trump at a net approval rating of -7, with more people disapproving of his performance than approving.

The disconnect is particularly sharp on consumer prices. While 71% of poll respondents said reducing prices should be the administration's top priority, only 46% believe Trump is actually making it one. That's a 25-point gap between what people want and what they think they're getting.

The phrase you're hearing more often these days is "K-shaped economy"—where wealthy households and big corporations are thriving while middle and lower-income families are getting squeezed by inflation and stagnant wages.

Bank of America Institute recently found that roughly 24% of U.S. households spend 95% of their income just on necessities. That leaves almost nothing for savings, emergencies, or anything beyond survival mode.

"Higher income and lower income households are living in two different worlds," said Bank of America Institute Economist Joe Wadford.

Which raises an interesting question: Can both Trump and Sanders be right? Maybe if you're grading on a curve that only includes the top half of earners.