By Theodore Bunker | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 04:45 PM EST
President Donald Trump will prioritize affordability and reducing the cost of living in the coming year, following recent Republican electoral setbacks, according to White House deputy chief of staff James Blair.
Blair told Dasha Burns in an interview on Politico’s “The Conversation,” set for release Friday, that Trump is acutely aware of economic challenges and believes the fundamentals for recovery are in place. “You’ll see him very focused on prices and cost of living,” Blair said.
He highlighted the success of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a campaign centered on affordability. “People talk about communists, but the fact is he was talking about the cost of living,” Blair remarked.
Blair also criticized Republican New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli for not addressing power costs as effectively as his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill. While Ciattarelli won the tax vote, Blair noted he focused on “generic” change rather than key affordability issues.
Additionally, Blair questioned Virginia GOP candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, stating more than half of her ads emphasized transgender issues, which he said were not a top concern for voters.
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer with over a decade of experience in politics and media, reported this story.
