U.S. Representative Shontel Brown has accused former President Donald Trump of misleading Americans over his pledge to lower the cost of living.
She is arguing that families in Ohio are facing significantly higher expenses due to his trade and economic policies.
In a post shared on Instagram, Rep. Brown said that instead of reducing household costs, Trump’s policies have coincided with sharp increases in everyday expenses for Ohio residents.
According to her, average Ohio families have seen their costs rise by more than $1,500 over the past year.
“One year ago, Trump said he would lower costs. Well, under Trump, costs for Ohioans have skyrocketed,” Brown said in the accompanying video.
She attributed the increases largely to Trump’s tariffs and trade wars, which she argued have driven up prices across key sectors of the economy.
Brown pointed to rising costs for food, housing, and transportation, describing them as areas where families are feeling the strain most acutely. She also warned of looming increases in insurance costs, which she linked to proposed Affordable Care Act (ACA) cuts and broader healthcare policy changes.
“Big insurance cost increases are coming because of the big ugly bill and ACA cuts,” she said, adding that these developments would further burden working families already struggling with higher prices.
The Ohio lawmaker also criticized Trump’s political priorities, suggesting they are disconnected from the economic realities facing ordinary Americans.
“With all this happening, what is he focused on? Buying Greenland,” Brown said, referencing Trump’s past comments about acquiring the Danish territory.
Brown concluded by stating that Trump’s economic agenda is unaffordable for Ohio residents. “The bottom line is this: Ohioans can’t afford Trump’s agenda,” she said.
Her remarks come amid ongoing national debates over inflation, tariffs, healthcare costs, and the economic impact of trade policies on U.S. households, issues that are expected to remain central as the country moves toward the next election cycle.
