While Donald Trump blamed the Biden administration for the high cost of eggs on the campaign, now that he is in the Oval Office, he isn’t taking any responsibility.
On Saturday, President Trump shared an article “Shut Up About Egg Prices” on his Truth Social account from a conservative youth organization that said the high price of eggs is in “no way President Trump’s fault.”
Nationwide, eggs cost $8 per dozen on average last week. The US Department of Agriculture reports that prices in January were 53% higher compared to the same time last year.
Trump made groceries the centerpiece of his campaign with a news conference in New Jersey with popular items including Cheerios and Fruit Loops on display on tables and a stop in a neighborhood market in the final weeks of the campaign where he gave a woman $100 toward her groceries.
Trump promised to rein in the cost of groceries starting on day one.
On day 50, prices of eggs and other items continue to rise, and with proposed tariffs by Trump, many staple items may continue to go up in price.
Trump now claims it’s nearly impossible to bring down grocery prices instantly saying it’s “very hard” to bring down costs.
Egg prices: Avian flu or corporate greed to blame?
Farm Action wrote a letter to the US Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in January blaming high egg prices on excessive corporate profits – and not the avian flu. According to Farm Action, the DOJ has now opened an investigation into the industry.
“We applaud the Department of Justice’s action to address the skyrocketing price of eggs. Every American has felt the financial pain caused by the power of the monopolistic egg industry. While avian flu is real, it is no excuse for the price being charged at the grocery store for one of the country’s staples,” said a statement from Farm Action.
“The DOJ has the legal authority to take the deep dive into the industry that is required to get to the bottom of this abuse, and they have the power to bring justice on behalf of the American people.”
The US Department of Agriculture reports highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. has infected more than 166 million birds across the United States since 2022. In January and February, the US lost more than 40 million birds to the disease.
Infected birds are depopulated to contain the virus, and the resulting production declines have tightened supply and sharply pushed up egg prices, according to Farm Bureau Virginia.
In Virginia, there have been three cases of HPAI in commercial flocks since the outbreak began in 2022.
“Egg supplies are tight right now due to avian influenza, but the US is still producing enough total eggs to meet normal demand,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The market also experiences distribution challenges during the disease outbreak. Challenges like hauling eggs longer distances and other logistical issues, replacement hen availability, state mandates for cage-free egg production and panic buying all help drive higher egg prices.”
It’s not just egg prices, is a recession on the table?
On Sunday, in an interview on Fox News, Trump said the economy would see “a period of transition.”
Trump said people need to take the long view and refused to rule out the possibility of a recession.
“I hate to predict things like that,” Trump said. “There is a period of transition because what we’re doing is very big.”
While it may be a hard sell for the American people, billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg can likely play the so-called long game.
The rest of us, well, I guess the so-called ‘golden age” isn’t about lining the pockets of everyday Americans.
“Access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at a Economic Club meeting last week.
So, it’s not about less expensive grocery prices after all.
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- Virginia wildlife officials tracking spread of highly pathogenic avian flu
- Conservation group: Bird flu could infect people; solution needed to prevent next pandemic
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Crystal Graham
