EXCLUSIVE — Democrats are trying to undercut President Donald Trump’s economic record six months into his second administration, criticizing him for what they call “soaring prices,” “rising unemployment,” and “plummeting approval.”
“Working families can’t afford to live in Trump’s America,” Democratic National Committee communications director Rosemary Boeglin told the Washington Examiner.
Boeglin contended that “as the job market slows and unemployment rises,” Trump’s “erratic” economic policies “continue to jack up prices.”
“Instead of focusing on a plan to bring down costs, Trump is scheming with Republicans in the House and Senate to pass a tax handout for billionaires paid for by working and middle class Americans,” she said.
Inflation did increase to 2.4% for the year ending last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but prices rose lower than the expected 2.5% regardless of unpredictable Trump’s trade and tariff policy implementation. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices from the data, also held steady for the third consecutive month at 2.8% for the year ending in May.
The economy similarly added 139,000 jobs last month, more than the anticipated 127,000, and the unemployment rate remained at 4.2%, according to BLS.
Meanwhile, the economy did contract during the first quarter of the year, with two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth indicative of a recession. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released its final report for the first quarter this week, finding that the economy shrank by 0.5% during the first three months of 2025. That is in addition to the BEA announcing on Friday that consumer spending decreased by 0.1% in May after rising 0.2% in April, the first decline since January.
The Department of Labor also published unemployment numbers on Thursday, showing that 1.96 million people collected unemployment benefits, the highest number of recurring claims since 2021.
To that end, the DNC underscored that, “thanks to Trump, the cost of everything from kids’ toys and wedding dresses to cars and utilities have skyrocketed, while essentials like medical care are predicted to get more expensive.”
“While prices skyrocket, economists are sounding the alarm on rising unemployment amid a slowing job market,” the DNC wrote.
The DNC also pointed to polls that emphasized how public approval of Trump’s economic management has been dissipating, despite the economy being one of his strongest issues during last year’s election against former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“New polling shows Trump’s expensive agenda is overwhelmingly unpopular with the American people,” the DNC said.
Among the polls was a Fox News survey circulated last week in which 58% of respondents disapproved of Trump’s economic approach.
Trump’s average economic approval is net negative 13 percentage points, 42% approve-55% disapprove, according to RealClearPolitics. His average approval rating regarding inflation is worse at net negative 20 points, 39% approve-59% disapprove.
The White House did not respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment.
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The DNC’s criticism comes as Trump pressures Congress to pass his legislative agenda by next week. The agenda has been packaged into a tax-and-spend measure branded as “the one big, beautiful bill.”
“According to the Council of Economic Advisors, these reforms will protect or create more than 7 million jobs, add 3.1% to economic growth, reduce taxes for the typical American by nearly 15%, and increase take home pay for a normal family by an incredible $13,000,” Trump said at the White House on Thursday. “All of these things are happening.”