Trump Official Says People Are Using Credit Cards More Often & Acts Like That’s A Good Thing

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What to Know

01 Donald Trump's economic adviser Kevin Hassett recently said people are spending more on gas—and everything else.
02 He framed this as a good thing, suggesting that it's a sign of a good economy.
03 People were disgusted by his comments and argued that spending has increased because prices have increased.

As ordinary Americans continue to struggle to afford gas, rent, and groceries, Trump administration officials have said some wild things in an attempt to explain what’s going on. Unsurprisingly, they’ve blamed Former President Joe Biden. They’ve also tried to say that people are not actually concerned about the economy, and that President Donald Trump has lowered gas prices. And now, an economic adviser for Trump is trying to say that the increase in credit card spending among Americans is actually a good sign. Um, what?

Kevin Hassett said Americans are spending more on everything—and somehow that’s supposed to be a positive thing?

Those in Trump’s circle have been known to bend over backwards to explain Trump’s words and actions. Hassett did the same when speaking to Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo. “I had the head of one of the big five banks in my office yesterday going through credit card data … and credit card spending is through the roof,” he boasted.

He added, “They’re spending more on gasoline, but they’re spending more on everything else too.” In addition to framing these changes as good things, he predicted that the job market would be “very, very strong” in the future.

His comments started circulating on social media, and they’ve made people angry.

A lot of people argued that, yeah, spending has increased—not because of a strong, healthy economy, but because the cost of living has increased. “They aren’t spending more as in buying more things,” one critic responded on X. “We are getting the same stuff at a higher price.”

People also couldn’t decide whether Hassett was being ignorant or condescending (or both). Perhaps he somehow truly believes that increased credit card spending is a good thing, or perhaps he’s trying to act like it is when he knows people are struggling. The fact that he was smiling when talking about consumers using credit cards more often really irritated people.

“Credit card spending means people are broke and going into debt to survive,” another critic argued. “That’s hardly a sign of economic health.”

But some people could see why Hassett was acting like this was a good thing. “They always see things through the eyes of the corporation, the owner, the capitalist, the business,” a commenter wrote. “…They never see things through the eyes of the average person.”

Politicians also weighed in.

Senator Bernie Sanders shared the clip and wrote, “Trump’s chief economist is right: ‘Credit card spending is through the roof.’ Americans are forced to put more of their spending on credit cards because of outrageously high prices. That’s a win for big banks charging 30% interest rates. It’s a disaster for working people.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren also posted it, writing, “The Trump Administration is raising your costs and celebrating it on live TV.”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker chimed in with, “‘Americans are spending more on everything.’ Yeah. Because Trump is making their life more expensive.” And California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press team called Hassett “totally out of touch.”

Which is probably why a lot of people made jokes about how this particular clip would actually help Democrats out. Congressman Ted Lieu actually said this point-blank. “Dear @WhiteHouse: PLEASE KEEP PUTTING KEVIN HASSETT ON TV,” he wrote. “I love how he helps Democratic messaging. It is absolutely true that ‘credit card spending is through the roof’ because gas prices are through the roof and ‘everything else too.'”

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Paige Sheffield (she/her)