Fox’s Martha MacCallum and Pete Buttigieg Clash Over Inflation During Trump Admin Versus Biden Admin

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg got into it with Martha MacCallum over whether inflation was worse under ex-President Joe Biden or President Donald Trump during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News.

Buttigieg said the latest inflation report that came out earlier in the day — showing inflation increased 3.7% year-over-year — proved Trump has whiffed on one of his key campaign promises.

“Remember, the central promise of this president and this congressional GOP was that on Day One they would lower our costs,” he said. “And instead, the new inflation numbers came out today, they are confirming what Americans are already feeling, which is that inflation to date is higher than it was on Day One.”

He continued, “They have done the exact opposite of what they have promised and made life in America more expensive.”

MacCallum then jumped in and said, “Well, it was at 9% in the Biden Administration, and you’re right, it’s not where the Fed wants to see it quite yet, but it’s much lower than at the end.”

“No, again, it was 3.0% and now it’s higher under Trump,” Buttigieg shot back.

“It was 9% in the Biden Administration and 3.1% at the beginning of the Trump administration, where we agree,” MacCallum countered. She then said she’d “love” to have Buttigieg come back on her show, as he reiterated inflation was “higher than on Day One.”

As it turns out, they were both right. Inflation was at 3.0% when Trump returned to the White House in 2025, while inflation hit a Biden era-high of 9.1% in July 2022. And if you’re wondering, inflation was at 1.4% when Biden took over for Trump in early 2021.

Their exchange comes a few days after CNN data guru Harry Enten projected the most likely outcome in the 2026 midterms is the Democrats take control of both the House and the Senate.

He said this was due mostly to Americans being upset with how Trump has handled several issues, including inflation, where he said the president has a -56 net approval rating. Enten said it was easily the worst net approval rating on inflation ever.

“What? What are we even talking about here?!” he yelped. “These are atrocious numbers.”

Watch above via The Story with Martha MacCallum.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!