Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is once again facing intense public backlash after offering what many called “absurd” and “out-of-touch” advice to Americans struggling with inflation. During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, the former hedge fund manager insisted that consumer prices had not risen under President Donald Trump’s second administration — and suggested the best way for cash-strapped families to escape rising costs was to pack up their lives and move from blue states to red states.
The remarks came during a tense interview with host Kristen Welker, who opened the segment by noting that prices for groceries, household staples, and imported goods have risen sharply since Trump levied a sweeping wave of tariffs in April. But Bessent pushed back immediately.
“No, no, no, no. They weren’t,” he said. “Inflation hasn’t gone up.”
Economists, federal data, and most major financial analyses contradict Bessent’s claim. Independent assessments from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and private-sector analysts have consistently found that Trump’s tariffs contributed to noticeable price hikes across multiple sectors, particularly in food categories. But Bessent dismissed such findings, blaming instead what he called the “emotional trauma” Americans still carry from inflation under President Joe Biden.
“And Kristen, the one thing we’re not going to do is do what the Biden administration did and tell the American people they don’t know how they feel,” Bessent said. “They are traumatized and, over the Biden inflation, we have slowed inflation.”
Welker pressed him further. “Isn’t the fact that you’re rolling back tariffs an admission that they ultimately do drive up prices?”
Rather than address the question directly, Bessent shifted to what would soon become one of the most heavily criticized lines of the interview.
“You know the best way to bring your inflation rate down?” he asked. “Move from a blue state to a red state.”
The answer stunned Welker and quickly lit up social media. Bessent elaborated, saying, “Blue state inflation is half a percent higher. That’s because they don’t deregulate. They keep prices up. Energy is higher.”
He then framed moving across the country — selling a home, finding new employment, enrolling children in new schools, and rebuilding an entire support system — as a rational economic strategy for ordinary families battling higher grocery bills.
The reaction online was swift and brutal. One viewer mocked the logic: “Tired of high grocery prices? Sell your home, find a new job, move somewhere else, start life over. Magic! Now your grocery bill is $10 less.”
Another added: “Move to a red state and watch your income automatically drop by 20%. If you’re lucky, only 20%.”
A third wrote: “Only feasible advice if your net worth is $600 million. Let’s talk about the rest of us.”
The pushback reflects long-standing criticism of Bessent, who was nominated by Trump in November. Known for his unconventional economic explanations and unwavering loyalty to the president’s messaging, Bessent has frequently clashed with experts who have analyzed the real-world effects of the administration’s tariff policy.
Earlier this month, he made headlines for another widely mocked claim — suggesting that skyrocketing beef prices were not linked to tariffs or inflation, but to migrants allegedly bringing diseased cattle across the border. Experts debunked the statement immediately, noting that no such phenomenon has been documented.
The latest controversy lands at a politically sensitive moment for the administration. Trump has attempted to reverse several of his own tariff increases just months after imposing them, citing concerns about affordability — even as he continues to insist that tariffs have lowered prices. The Supreme Court has also expressed skepticism about the legality of his broad tariff powers, a sign of potential future legal battles.
The contradictions between Bessent’s assurances and Trump’s own statements have drawn further attention. On Truth Social earlier this month, Trump lashed out at critics of his economic record, writing: “Affordability is a lie when used by the Dems. It is a complete CON JOB. We are the Party of Affordability!” The post came just days before his administration began scaling back tariffs on coffee, beef, and tropical fruits.
Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to grapple with rising costs, wage stagnation, and uneven economic recovery — making Bessent’s suggestion to “start over” in a different state feel especially disconnected from reality.
While Bessent portrayed his advice as pragmatic, the interview quickly became a snapshot of an administration struggling to reconcile its political messaging with economic data, all while Americans brace for another holiday season marked by higher prices.
As the backlash continues to build, neither the Treasury Department nor the White House has offered further comment on Bessent’s remarks.