NEW YORK (AP) A new bipartisan organization known as the Cost Coalition is being launched by critics of President Donald Trump to address his challenges in managing rising costs during the initial phase of his second presidency. This initiative aims to shed light on economic issues that have arisen within the first 100 days of his administration.
Initially, the group plans to be particularly active as upcoming elections in states such as Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania approach. According to preliminary plans shared with The Associated Press, the Cost Coalition will utilize a variety of strategies, including paid advertising, social media outreach, press interviews, and community events that engage small business leaders, veterans, and members of the faith community.
Leading figures in the organization include Terry Holt, a former spokesperson for President George W. Bush, and Andrew Bates, who previously served as a spokesperson for President Joe Biden. Both have expressed grave concerns about Trump's economic policies. In a joint statement, they criticized Trump's administration, claiming, "In 100 days, Donald Trump put the best-performing economy in the world on a crash course toward recession." They also highlighted that Trump’s tariffs represent "the biggest middle-class tax hike in modern history," contributing significantly to rising prices and economic instability.
Moreover, the group contends that Trump’s proposed tax cuts, which favor wealthy individuals, will likely burden future generations with immense debt. They argue that regardless of political affiliation, Trump’s agenda poses an economic threat to all Americans, disrupting their livelihoods and standards of living.
The Cost Coalition enters a political arena that is already saturated with influential voices, just over 100 days into Trump’s second term. While Trump has promised to “end inflation” from the outset, critics reveal that he has predominantly concentrated on issues related to immigration, cultural conflicts, and retaliatory actions against his political foes, including instigating a global trade war that exacerbates cost burdens and imperils the U.S. economy.
Recently, Trump declared on his social media platform that inflation is essentially non-existent and claimed that prices for groceries and eggs have fallen, along with gasoline dropping to $1.98 per gallon. However, these assertions are misleading, as grocery prices rose 0.5% in two of the last three months and are up 2.4% compared to the previous year. Even though gasoline prices have decreased by 10% year-over-year, this trend has largely been shaped by looming fears of economic downturns.
While inflation saw a noticeable decrease in March, other economic indicators reveal that the overall inflation rate for the first quarter stood at 3.6%, significantly above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%.
The leadership team of the Cost Coalition consists of seasoned political operatives, many of whom played crucial roles in Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. This includes Republican strategist Austin Weatherford, Rev. Jennifer Butler, Libby Jamison, political strategist Leslie Gross, and George Holman.
A representative from the coalition indicated that while the source of their funding will not be publicly disclosed, the organization has received “seed contributions” from significant donors from both parties, supplemented by grassroots donations. Operating under the American Values Alliance, the Cost Coalition will be structured as a nonprofit alongside a hybrid political action committee, allowing it to maintain privacy regarding its complete funding sources.
