America’s grocery bills just hit another alarming milestone — and now even ground beef may jump to $10 a pound.
As families continue to feel the strain of rising food prices, President Trump’s top economic officials stepped forward Sunday to explain why costs keep going up — and what the administration is doing to stop the squeeze on the American household budget.
The message was clear: Biden-era inflation, supply-chain failures, and a dangerous livestock parasite coming through the southern border have created a perfect storm that consumers are still paying for today.
Trump Administration: “We Inherited a Disaster”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures that today’s inflated grocery prices were set into motion long before President Trump returned to office.
“The beef market is extremely specialized and moves in long cycles,” Bessent explained. “This is yet another crisis we inherited. But we’re flattening inflation, and we’re pushing prices back down.”
Bessent pointed out that under Biden, inflation surged to the highest levels in decades — hitting seniors, working families, and fixed-income Americans the hardest. Even as Trump brings inflation down, some sectors are still feeling lingering pressure.
Why Experts Say Beef Could Hit $10 a Pound
The warning came from Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe, who cautioned that ground beef may hit $10 a pound by next fall, and that—thanks to the damage already done—prices may not normalize until 2027.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis confirms this trend, reporting that ground beef has already climbed to $6.32, up from $5.67 just one year ago.
With millions of Americans relying on beef as a grocery staple, these increases are fueling major concerns about food affordability nationwide.
Trump’s Response: Tariff Cuts, Tax Relief & Real Growth
To counter rising food prices, the Trump administration eased tariffs on several imported food products last week — including beef, coffee, and tropical fruits — to increase supply and lower prices for consumers.
This move pairs with Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, also called the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which:
- Ends taxes on tips and overtime
- Creates $1,000 “Trump Accounts” for children born from 2025–2028
- Expands relief for working-class families and retirees
Bessent emphasized that the goal is simple: restore purchasing power, stimulate economic growth, and rebuild the middle class after years of inflation.
Hassett: “Prices Went Up Under Biden — Now We’re Fixing It Fast”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett faced questions from ABC’s This Week about food prices and holiday affordability.
He didn’t mince words.
“The prices went up dramatically under Joe Biden,” Hassett said. “Inflation is already half of what it was last December. Gasoline is down. Mortgage rates are down. This administration is lowering costs across the board.”
Hassett also blasted the media for cherry-picking single products to create misleading narratives, pointing out that Thanksgiving dinner costs fell for many Americans — especially those who shop smart and choose store brands.
The Hidden Threat: A Border Parasite Driving Beef Shortages
One of the biggest — and least talked-about — contributors to rising beef prices is the New World screwworm, a dangerous parasite currently spreading in Mexico.
Its larvae burrow into livestock, causing painful wounds that can be fatal. To protect American cattle, the Trump administration temporarily halted imports of cattle, bison, horses, and other livestock from Mexico earlier this year.
“Part of the problem is that we’ve had to close the border to Mexican beef because of this disease,” Bessent said. “We will not allow this parasite into our supply chain.”
Scientists believe the outbreak worsened because Mexico reduced production of sterile flies during the pandemic — weakening a decades-long joint effort to control the screwworm population.
Relief Is Coming — And Faster Than Critics Claim
Despite Democrats sweeping off-year elections, the White House says voters will see meaningful relief soon.
Bessent predicts:
- Inflation bending sharply downward
- Real income growth accelerating
- Stronger economic expansion in the first and second quarters
And he took a swipe at the prior administration:
“We’re not going to tell Americans to ignore what they feel at the grocery store — something the Biden White House tried to do.”
Trump advisers say affordability will play a major role in the 2026 midterm strategy. The president has even floated a $2,000 tariff dividend for working families, pending congressional approval and outcomes at the Supreme Court.
“Everything is on the table,” Bessent said. “And any dividend would be targeted to working families.”
Bottom Line
The Trump administration says the beef crisis is real — but temporary.
And more importantly, they say help is already on the way.
With targeted relief, tariff adjustments, tax cuts, and tough border protections, the White House argues it is rapidly undoing the damage of the past four years and rebuilding an economy that works again for the American middle class, seniors, and families living on fixed incomes.
