Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) isn't buying President Donald Trump's rosy economic narrative. In a Tuesday post on X, Sanders pushed back after Trump declared, "We have an amazing economy," pointing to the harsh realities many Americans face daily.
Trump, in a Fox News clip, doubled down: "We had the best economy of any president ever in my first term. I believe this is going to blow it away." But Sanders countered with a sobering checklist: "60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck. 85 million are uninsured or underinsured. More than 750,000 are homeless. The price of groceries is through the roof." His punchline: "If this is 'amazing,' God help us."
Sanders isn't alone in his criticism. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused Trump and congressional Republicans of prioritizing military spending over working families. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) also took aim, criticizing a $1.8 billion fund that he says benefits Trump's allies while Americans face rising gas prices, healthcare cuts, and tax breaks for the wealthy.
Even the economic forecasters are sounding alarms. Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi warned that the U.S. economy is struggling with elevated inflation, slowing growth, and mounting pressure on household finances—factors that could increase recession risks.
Trump, for his part, has dismissed such concerns. In May, he said Americans' financial struggles were "not even a little bit" influencing his administration's negotiations with Iran. "The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon," he stated, adding, "I don't think about Americans' financial situation, I don't think about anybody."
So, is the economy amazing? It depends on who you ask—and whether you're looking at the stock market or the grocery store checkout line.
