'Man of the people': Robert Reich slams Trump over economic disconnect as inflation hits 3-year high
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich questioned whether President Donald Trump has the interests of everyday Americans at heart, after his "I love the inflation" remark to reporters during an Oval Office press conference. In a pointed, sarcastic jab, Reich said that Trump was truly "a man of the people," highlighting a string of past remarks in which the President was accused of dismissing Americans' financial situation and the effects of rising gas prices.
The 79-year-old, who served in the Clinton administration and is a staunch Trump critic, said that inflation was already surging before the war in Iran, driven largely by tariffs. Reich pointed out that Americans have yet to see a refund despite the Supreme Court ruling the tariffs illegal and argued that the administration's refund process bypasses the average American entirely, benefiting only importers and major corporations who are set to receive a windfall of billions.
Inflation is outpacing wages by almost a whole point, that is quite literally the opposite of "Americans with more money in their pockets."
— Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) June 11, 2026
Trump loyalists are utterly incapable of admitting how disastrous this economy is no matter how many Americans tell them they're suffering. https://t.co/Xq1F9jrNLz pic.twitter.com/YKVIPe5nNx
With inflation climbing to 4.2% in May, its highest in three years, Reich's broadside landed at a politically sensitive moment, amplifying growing public anxiety over the cost of living. Reich is not the only former official to criticize the administration's handling of inflation. Bill Kristol, former Chief of Staff to the Vice President, also reproved the President, arguing that inflation was significantly lower under the Biden administration, standing at 2.9% in Biden's final month in office. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg accused the President of fixating on the wrong priorities, from redecorating a ballroom to shielding himself from audits and waging a war with no exit strategy.
Trump says he “loves inflation.” Since he took office, Virginians are paying:
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) June 12, 2026
$572 more for housing
$310 more for groceries
$444 more for gas
Democratic lawmakers were equally unsparing. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned that President Trump's contempt for the working class "knows no bounds," while Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) was more blunt: "Trump doesn't give a flying f**k about you." The President's remarks came in response to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, which showed inflation had jumped nearly 10 per cent from April, driven primarily by food and energy prices.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 12, 2026
In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course.
Meanwhile, there is a broad consensus that the war in Iran is fueling the inflationary spike, with no clarity on when a peace deal will materialize—despite Trump claiming 39 times that one is imminent. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country is mediating the negotiations, confirmed that a final agreed text has been "reached" and that Pakistan is working closely with both sides on next steps. "Peace has never been this close as it is now," he wrote on X.
