Trump Deflects Inflation Blame to Biden at Arizona Rally
President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for high prices during an Arizona rally, shortly after new data showed inflation rising again. The report said gasoline costs drove much of the increase, with the consumer price index up 3.7% year over year in September. Trump also said the economy was strong and that gas prices would have risen even more after strikes on Iran.
At a Bullhead City rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs, Trump blamed Biden for affordability concerns. He cited a record stock market and said high oil prices benefit Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota. That day, Labor Department data showed September consumer prices up 3.7% yearly and 0.6% monthly.
Gasoline climbed 9.1% in September and drove over half of the monthly CPI rise; the national average was more than $1 above a year earlier amid the Iran war. Trump predicted fuel costs would fall sharply after the conflict, below pre-war levels. A Pew survey found the economy was the leading issue for 84% of registered voters.
The renewed inflation report and rally messaging may keep affordability central in campaigns, potentially shaping how voters weigh economic records. Households facing higher fuel costs could feel immediate strain, while candidates may use blame and credit claims to mobilize supporters. The debate could also affect trust in economic leadership, though its electoral effect may depend on whether gas prices ease and how voters interpret the Iran conflict's costs.