Trump Critics Launch Cost Coalition to Expose Inflation Impact/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A bipartisan group of Trump critics has launched the Cost Coalition to spotlight rising living costs under his leadership, aiming to influence voters ahead of major state elections.
Cost Coalition Targets Trump’s Economic Agenda: Quick Looks
- New Group Launched: Bipartisan critics of President Trump form the Cost Coalition
- Focus: Rising costs tied to tariffs, tax policy, and economic instability
- Strategy: Paid ads, grassroots events, social media, and press engagement
- Leadership: Includes veterans of both Bush and Biden administrations
- Claims: Trump’s policies risk recession and burden the middle class
- Political Timing: Launch aligns with 2025 elections in VA, NJ, and PA
- Funding: Backed by bipartisan major donors and grassroots contributions
- Legal Status: Structured as a nonprofit tied to a hybrid PAC
Trump Critics Launch Cost Coalition to Expose Inflation Impact
Deep Look
NEW YORK — A newly formed bipartisan coalition is aiming squarely at President Donald Trump’s economic record, launching a high-profile campaign to link his policies to rising costs and economic uncertainty for American families.
Dubbed the Cost Coalition, the organization will operate as a hybrid political and nonprofit group with an initial focus on the 2025 off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, according to details shared with the Associated Press.
The group’s mission: Hold Trump accountable for what it calls “an economic crisis in the making,” driven by tariffs, deficit-expanding tax cuts, and a lack of focus on cost-of-living issues.
Bipartisan Firepower
The Cost Coalition is being led by a politically diverse roster of seasoned operatives:
- Terry Holt, a Republican strategist and former spokesperson for President George W. Bush and House Speaker John Boehner
- Andrew Bates, a Democratic strategist and former spokesperson for President Joe Biden
- Austin Weatherford, head of “Republicans for Harris”
- Rev. Jennifer Butler, faith engagement director for the Kamala Harris 2020 campaign
- Libby Jamison, Harris’ veterans and military families lead
- Leslie Gross, an Obama-Biden alum
- George Holman, formerly of the Biden administration
The coalition will coordinate press campaigns, digital advertising, and community outreach events featuring small business owners, veterans, and faith leaders to spotlight how inflation and price instability are hitting working-class Americans.
Tariffs and Tax Cuts Under Fire
Holt and Bates didn’t mince words in their joint statement:
“Trump’s tariffs — the biggest middle-class tax hike in modern history — are making everyday prices skyrocket. Next up are grossly inflationary tax cuts for the wealthy.”
The pair argues that Trump’s economic priorities are destabilizing the economy, further enriching the wealthy while leaving everyday Americans burdened with higher costs and mounting debt.
Their message is a clear effort to counter Trump’s narrative that inflation is under control. The president recently claimed online that there is “NO INFLATION” and said gas prices have dropped to $1.98 a gallon — despite official figures showing a 2.4% increase in grocery prices over the past year and gas averaging $3.18 per gallon, according to AAA.
Economic Reality Check
While inflation has slowed since its post-pandemic peak, it remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, registering at 3.6% in Q1 of 2025 using the Fed’s preferred metrics.
That, combined with Trump’s new tariff hikes and expected tax legislation, has stoked fears of a recession, with some economists warning that rising consumer costs and global trade tensions are once again putting the U.S. economy in a vulnerable position.
Funding and Structure
The Cost Coalition will operate under the American Values Alliance umbrella as a nonprofit and hybrid PAC, allowing it to raise and spend both tax-deductible contributions for issue advocacy and political donations for election-related efforts.
A spokesperson said the group has secured “seed contributions” from major donors in both parties and will also emphasize grassroots fundraising. Due to its hybrid status, not all funding sources will need to be disclosed publicly.
Target: 2025 and Beyond
The group’s immediate focus will be on influencing the upcoming gubernatorial and legislative elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — three battleground states that could serve as barometers of Trump’s political strength heading into the 2026 midterms.
With control of state legislatures and public opinion at stake, the Cost Coalition hopes to frame Trump’s second term not as a return to economic prosperity, but as the start of a new affordability crisis.
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