Trump Highlights Low Inflation During Fort Bragg Visit

WASHINGTON—On Friday, President Donald Trump celebrated low inflation as he left the White House, heading to Fort Bragg with First Lady Melania Trump.

As he prepared to board Marine One, Trump took the opportunity to share his thoughts on the recently released Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, noting a year-over-year inflation rate of 2.4%.

He stated, “So the inflation numbers that just came out, as you know, have come down significantly and we’re getting it back on track. We’ve had some of the worst inflation in the history of our country, and now we have very moderate inflation, which is what you want.”

In contrast, core consumer prices—excluding food and energy—rose by 2.5% over the year and increased by 0.3% from the previous month. John Carney, an economics editor, pointed out that this marked the lowest core inflation rate since March 2021.

According to the White House, real wages for private-sector workers increased by $1,400 during Trump’s first full year in office, after what they termed “Bidenflation” diminished Americans’ buying power.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Khush Desai remarked, “Today’s better-than-expected CPI report proves that President Trump has overcome Joe Biden’s inflation crisis. Overall inflation has fallen, with real wages increasing by $1,400 in President Trump’s first year in office,” in a statement made Friday.

Desai further mentioned, “While housing inflation continues to noticeably slow, prescription drug prices actually fell in 2025. Thanks to President Trump’s Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing Agreement and the Great Health Care Plan, further price relief is on the way for U.S. patients.”

He also referred to the anticipated Fed rate cuts as a means to further stimulate the economy.

The White House reported that since the president’s return to office in January 2025, real wages have reportedly risen to $1,700 for workers in commodity production and manufacturing, $2,100 for construction workers, and $2,400 for miners.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, asserted, “Joe Biden has destroyed the economy. Whether it’s Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris, these policies have been a disaster for the American people. Cumulative inflation is at 21.5%, and real purchasing power has been lost.”

Bessent expressed optimism for the future, saying, “We will see real wage growth in 2025,” while highlighting that lower prices and higher wages are key to improving affordability. He also noted that the momentum could be very strong by 2026, suggesting people might start to feel the effects.