Donald Trump received sharp criticism online after he gave a vague and content-free answer to a supporter's question about rent costs.
The former president called into “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday and answered questions from voters during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
“Of the eight children I am a father and stepfather to, five are struggling and I regularly give them a portion of my income,” said one voter wearing a “Trump 2024” patch on his vest.
“How are you going to improve the economy – not just the food and the electricity – but also lower the rents and the housing prices so that these children can survive without the help of their parents?”
Trump's response included some of his best moves: he grossly exaggerated inflation figures, lied about the price of bacon, and promised to dismantle environmental protections and increase domestic production of fossil fuels.
This Trump supporter says his kids are struggling to pay rent and asks Trump what he would do to lower it. The response is so unbelievably bad.
— Read No Shortcuts (@JoshuaPHilll) August 7, 2024
But first, Trump kicked off the celebration by saying he likely has the support of “at least 99, maybe 100 percent” of the people Fox News spoke to at the event.
“We're going to drill, baby, drill, we're going to bring down the cost of energy,” he continued, repeating one of his campaign mantras. “Energy is what's caused the worst inflation, I think, in the history of our country. Food prices are up 50 percent, sometimes more.”
“Look at bacon. Bacon has quadrupled. You can't order bacon or anything. We're living terribly,” he continued. “We have the worst inflation we've ever had in our country, and it started with energy. We're going to drill, baby, drill.”
He also made a difficult-to-interpret comment about China.
“And then we get China and all those countries that treated us well when I was there… it took me a long time to get them to behave well, and all those countries are going to stop again,” he added.
(Bacon prices haven't even doubled, let alone quadrupled, since Joe Biden became president, and inflation is still far from the highest levels in U.S. history.)
Commentators on social media criticized Trump's response, calling it a “word salad” and a “non-answer,” accusing him of ignoring a legitimate question by spouting nonsense.
See some reactions below.
Trump Supporter: What are you going to do to lower the rent? How are we going to lower the rent so the kids can survive?
Trump: Drill baby drill… Look at the bacon… China… https://t.co/d4cViRTIYl
— Tara Raghuveer (@taraghuveer) August 7, 2024
I don't care if you're a red hat Maga or a blue haired liberal, if you want a safe future in this country you need to realize this man has NOTHING. HE HAS NO ANSWERS. https://t.co/oTGMeSMZ9r
— TONY SNARK (@Yamscasino) August 7, 2024
This poor man asked a legitimate question and had to listen to this con artist spout nonsense and lies. https://t.co/KF7DTSVXFY
— Seasons Gone Sign Soto (@TheBabyMets) August 7, 2024
Responding with “drill baby drill” to a concerned supporter asking about rising rents is about as idiotic as it gets. Americans deserve better! https://t.co/KKSd7FjEBl
— Derek Marshall for Congress (@DerekMarshallCA) August 8, 2024
I think it is a foolish endeavor to court right-wing voters, but I think @KamalaHQ should take clips like this, post them and then give a real response. This man, no matter how misguided his choices or beliefs, has legitimate concerns that we all share. https://t.co/Dhh5dyIewV
—Vince Underwood (@VinceUnderwood) August 8, 2024
I really feel bad for this man. Besides the fact that he still supports Trump, people all over the world have problems like this man. He asked a real, genuine question about how he and his children would survive and Trump treated it like a press conference. https://t.co/OTu8ZpfhqB
— @alishagrauso.bsky.social (@AlishaGrauso) August 8, 2024
In fact it just repeats that everything went up, 4 years ago was better, it has to go down, it doesn't say how, rattling rattling nonsense 🤡 https://t.co/JymE4UETLE
— KD ⚡️ (@Kitten0fDoom) August 8, 2024
Q: What are you going to do about house prices?
Trump: I'm so glad everybody out there is supporting me! It was great when I was president! We're going to drive prices down by drilling, drilling, drilling. https://t.co/3cGs1K87TP
— farhad manjoo (former bluecheck) (@fmanjoo) August 8, 2024
The ultimate greedy landlord asks: “What are you going to do to make landlords less greedy?”
Trump: “Bacon! Bacon will be cheap. Drill. China, remember China? Drill baby drill. Interest rates were great when I was president. Please don't mention landlords anymore.” https://t.co/yTawEiIdIZ— Sereen (@MythSerene) August 7, 2024
This is how you lose votes, people. This guy had a genuine concern and got a stupid, confused answer full of greed and dollar signs. Awesome. https://t.co/NDpOK9xnaI
— Tiffani (@TiffaniDeems) August 8, 2024