When I served in President Joe Biden’s White House, we had strong economic news: robust job creation, rising wages, low unemployment, and a manufacturing revival. Though inflation spiked early, it fell significantly by the time he left office. Mr. Biden wanted to highlight his domestic agenda, believing his policies were working. But polling showed our message wasn’t landing.
Senior advisers, including myself, met for hours analyzing the disconnect between positive data and public skepticism. Americans felt the strain of high grocery, rent, child care, and gas prices—experiences that contradicted official optimism. We believed clearer facts would convince them.
They didn’t. We failed to adapt. Some feared acknowledging hardship would weaken our case; others said ignoring it made us seem out of touch.
Without consensus, the public mood hardened. We had a stale message and outdated models. It cost Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris dear.
Now, President Trump is repeating the error. Inflation is higher than when he returned, the bond market is unstable, the Federal Reserve raised rates, and his trade wars and conflict with Iran are harming the economy—explaining his sinking polls. Mr. Biden’s “middle-out, bottom-up” growth message didn’t resonate. Trump’s “hottest country” claim is unpersuasive, especially as he dismisses affordability as a “fake word” and calls high gas prices “inexpensive.” When leaders ignore lived experience, their message collapses.
Facts alone no longer carry weight. Once, official briefings shaped public understanding. Now, social media algorithms favor outrage and certainty.
A TikTok about prices can outperform any White House briefing. Once a narrative rooted in daily life takes hold, it dominates.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing