GOP leader claims ground beef prices are ‘less than $2 a pound,’ despite reality

During the Bush/Cheney administration’s war in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had a bad habit. Whenever anyone would point to areas in Iraq that were on fire as the disastrous war continued to unfold, the Pentagon chief would effectively argue, “You’re focused on the bad news. But what about the Iraqi communities that aren’t on fire?”

Two decades later, as Americans struggle with an affordability crisis and inflation that has gotten worse, Republicans have adopted a similar posture. Pressed on increased consumer costs, GOP officials tend to argue, “You’re focused on the bad news. But what about the items that aren’t more expensive?”

Take House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, for example.

Emmer says Republicans need to talk more about grocery prices that aren’t expensive: “Eggs are at pre-pandemic prices. Ah, beef is at, ah, less than $2 a pound for ground beef … I think we have a lot to run on.”

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-09-16T11:59:03.186Z

The Minnesota Republican appeared on Fox Business this week and was asked about voters who believe their grocery bills are still too high. Pressed on his message, Emmer replied, “We still have work to do — there’s no question. But eggs are at pre-pandemic prices. Beef is at less than $2 a pound for ground beef.”

Even if we put aside the flaws in this Rumsfeldian pitch, it’s hard not to wonder when exactly Emmer last visited a grocery store.

Eggs, for example, are not at pre-pandemic prices. It’s not a matter of opinion: The Trump administration’s own data shows that egg prices spiked last year and still have not returned to where they were.

As for ground beef, the idea that consumers can buy it for “less than $2 a pound” is bonkers. Again, according to the Trump administration’s own data, ground beef prices have soared to roughly $7 a pound.

The last time ground beef cost less than $2 a pound was the summer of 2003, which was 23 years ago.

Some might have seen Emmer’s on-air appearance and thought it was just another instance in which a congressional Republican was trying to deceive the public ahead of the midterm elections. But therein lies the rub: The GOP leader’s pitch to voters won’t work, because it’s literally unbelievable to any American who has been in a grocery store lately.

Politicians can get away with all kinds of dishonesty, but asking voters not to believe their own wallets is a losing proposition.

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