WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has voiced her frustration over former President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to impose a 50% tariff on Colombian coffee, claiming it would exacerbate inflation for working-class Americans. In a statement shared on social media, Ocasio-Cortez argued that American consumers, not Colombia, would ultimately bear the cost of the tariffs.
“To ‘punish’ Colombia, Trump is about to make every American pay even more for coffee,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter. “WE pay the tariffs, not Colombia. Trump is all about making inflation WORSE for working-class Americans, not better. He’s lining the pockets of himself and the billionaire class.”
Critics, however, have pointed out what they perceive as inconsistency in Ocasio-Cortez’s focus on inflation. Under the Biden-Harris administration, food prices and other costs of living have risen sharply, with inflation surpassing wage growth for more than two years. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis highlights economic challenges, including a sluggish 1.3% GDP growth in early 2024 and historic interest rates that have driven up housing costs and credit card debt.
Since President Biden took office, prices have increased by 20.1%, real wages and benefits have fallen by 3.9%, and families have struggled with dwindling savings and mounting late fees. Mortgage costs have more than doubled, and personal savings rates have dropped to near historic lows at 3.6%. Additionally, inflation outpaced wage growth for 26 consecutive months during Biden’s presidency, leading to significant financial strain for many Americans.
While Ocasio-Cortez links the proposed tariff to an inflationary burden on consumers, critics argue that the broader economic landscape, shaped by “Bidenomics,” has already strained household budgets. The debate underscores the political tension surrounding the economic policies of both the current and former presidents.