California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a pointed critique of Donald Trump during Climate Week NYC, accusing him of “betraying the American people.” He cited rising costs in various sectors—beef, coffee, cars, utilities, and healthcare—as evidence of Trump’s economic failures. However, a deeper dive into the actual data shows that Newsom’s claims do not hold up under scrutiny.
Take the price of ground beef, for instance. As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average retail price for ground beef hit $6.32 per pound in September 2025. This figure is certainly higher than in previous years, but attributing it solely to government mismanagement ignores significant factors like the current U.S. cattle herd being the smallest in seventy years. Contributing issues, such as droughts, high feed costs, and disrupted exports, paint a clearer picture of the situation. These are long-standing challenges that go far beyond Trump’s influence.
Coffee prices are similarly misleading. An analysis reveals that severe weather events in Brazil and Vietnam, both major coffee producers, resulted in significant crop shortages, leading to skyrocketing global prices. These trends are rooted in supply chain and climate-related challenges, not in any actions taken by Trump.
Now, let’s discuss car prices. According to the BLS consumer price index, the cost of new vehicles rose just 1.3% over the past year—quite unlike the staggering increases seen during the pandemic. The earlier spikes in car prices can be traced back to supply chain disruptions and chip shortages that were already in motion well before Trump returned to the presidency.
Utility bills have edged up, too, by about 2.8% year-over-year, attributed mainly to rising natural gas prices and state-level policies. In California, where energy costs are notoriously high, these steep charges are a direct result of Newsom’s renewable mandates and underlying bureaucratic inefficiencies, not influenced by any federal policy.
One of the most striking assertions from Newsom claims that “healthcare is about to triple.” Yet, the medical care index has only increased by a modest 3.3% over the past twelve months—far from a tripling. Under Trump’s administration, vital reforms aimed at improving price transparency forced hospitals to disclose their costs. This allowed patients to shop around for better prices, resulting in substantial savings on medical expenses.
While Newsom paints a grim picture of the economy, he ought to focus on the issues plaguing his own state. California currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 5.5%. The housing crisis is squeezing the middle class, while small businesses continue to leave the state in droves. Furthermore, electricity bills are nearly double the national average, showcasing the real challenges faced by Californians. These economic hardships stem from Newsom’s high taxes and stringent regulations rather than from any federal policies.
Nationally, despite the ongoing challenges of inflation, key economic indicators suggest a more stable outlook. The overall consumer price index rose by 3.0% over the past year, a significant drop from the 8% to 9% peaks experienced under Biden. Wages continue to rise, job growth remains steady, and crucial sectors are making a comeback. This indicates that the economy is not collapsing but rather undergoing a cautious recovery.
Newsom’s inflammatory accusations appear to serve as a smokescreen for his administration’s failures and California’s ongoing decline. The facts and figures available clearly demonstrate that Trump’s policies are not to blame for rising costs. Newsom can try to reshape reality, but the unyielding data tells a different story—one that reflects the true landscape of economic challenges in both California and the nation at large.
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