A significant public backlash has erupted following comments from Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, who recently asserted that the U.S. economy is performing well and suggested that widespread concerns over affordability may be overstated. Her remarks, which aligned with former President Donald Trump’s framing of the issue as a political “hoax,” have drawn sharp criticism from social media users who described her perspective as “out of touch” with the daily financial realities of many Americans.

The controversy gained traction after Bartiromo’s appearance on the network’s program Hannity. During the segment, she defended the former president’s economic record and his optimistic portrayal of the nation’s financial health. “I gotta tell you, I don’t think the people really feel as bad as the Democrats are talking about,” Bartiromo stated. “The economy is doing well.”

Her comments closely followed President Trump’s own declarations on the matter. Speaking to an audience in Pennsylvania earlier in the week, Trump dismissed the ongoing dialogue about the high cost of living as a political tactic. “Democrats talking about affordability is like Bonnie and Clyde preaching about public safety,” he remarked, adding, “They are really the, truly the enemy of the working class when they do it.” The former president claimed his opponents were weaponizing a single word. “They use the word affordability, and that’s their only word… everyone says, oh, that must mean Trump has high prices? No, our prices are coming down tremendously from the highest prices in the history of our country.” When asked to grade the current state of the U.S. economy, Trump gave it an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”

However, this confident assessment appears to conflict with public sentiment captured in recent polling. A Fox News poll conducted last month revealed that a significant majority of Americans do not approve of Trump’s economic strategies, with his approval on the issue standing at just 36 percent. Furthermore, a report from Mediate indicated that nearly half of all Americans believe the former president’s economic policies have personally hurt their financial situations.

During her on-air segment, Bartiromo did concede that some economic pressures persist. “There are certainly commodities that are still high,” she acknowledged. “People are frustrated with housing and the price of homes. People are frustrated with certain food items.” Despite this, she pivoted back to a positive outlook, attributing significant achievements to the former administration. “But there are a number of things that President Trump has already been incredibly successful at doing,” she added.

To support this claim, Bartiromo cited a figure attributed to Trump, stating he had secured “$18 trillion of new investments in the country.” This number has been a point of contention. According to the White House’s official website, the total value of such investments stood at $9.6 trillion as of December 10. Moreover, economic experts have cautioned that many of these announced “investments” represent future commitments or promises rather than capital that has already been deployed, arguing they should not yet be counted as finalized economic gains.

The perceived disconnect between Bartiromo’s commentary and the lived experience of many citizens triggered an immediate and forceful response online. Social media platforms were flooded with comments from individuals who felt her analysis ignored widespread financial struggles.

“Telling people the economy is great while people are struggling to afford life is certainly a choice,” one user wrote, encapsulating a common sentiment.

Another commenter pointed to the perceived gap between the wealthy and the working class, stating, “Love it when rich folks tell you that it is not bad. Put them up in a small two to three bedroom home with one bath and give them a wage less than 6 figures and see how they go.”

The critique of being disconnected from everyday concerns was a recurring theme. “$18 trillion in investments isn’t helping our grocery bills or heating our houses,” another person commented. “So out of touch.”

One user questioned Bartiromo’s credibility as a barometer of public feeling, writing, “[Bartiromo] has been out of touch for most of the century so I’m not sure she is any type of referee on how people feel about the economy (or anything else).”

The incident highlights a deepening national conversation about economic perception versus reality. While certain macroeconomic indicators may suggest strength, factors like persistent inflation on essential goods, high interest rates, and the prohibitive cost of housing continue to exert pressure on household budgets across the country. The clash between political messaging from figures like Trump and Bartiromo and the tangible financial strain reported by a large portion of the populace underscores a fundamental divide in how the nation’s economic health is defined and experienced.