US President Donald Trump defended himself on Wednesday against criticism over high egg pricesclaiming he had no role in the surge.
Speaking at highly anticipated ‘Make America Wealthy Again’ event where he announced the reciprocal tariffs over other countries, Trump briefly spoke about egg prices before revealing the taxes.
About speaking of egg prices, he shifted blame to his predecessors and said, “I just got here,” and asserting that the steep rise occurred before his return to office.
At the event, Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs targeting various nations, including China, the European Union, and Japan, under what he called “Liberation Day.” While these tariffs aim to strengthen American industry, economists have raised concerns that they could further drive up prices for consumers.
Egg prices have been a point of frustration for many Americans, with costs skyrocketing in early 2024 due to supply chain disruptions and avian flu outbreaks.
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According to CNN, a dozen eggs reached a 10-year high of $5.90 in February. However, prices have started to decline, with wholesale eggs now averaging $3.00 per dozen, largely due to improved supply and fewer avian flu cases.
Despite the decrease, consumers have yet to see major relief at grocery stores. The US department of agriculture said that “only now starting to see shelf prices slowly decline.”
Earlier, Trump had taken credit for recent price drops, stating, “we got it down,” and pointing to his administration’s $1 billion investment in combating avian flu. However, industry experts, including American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson, attribute the decline to the natural recovery of poultry farms and increased production, reported CNN.