Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) delivered unusually sharp criticism of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, calling one of his recent comments about inflation “absolutely outrageous” and warning that it could create political problems for Republicans heading into future elections.
The dispute arose after Trump made a remark during an Oval Office signing ceremony that quickly drew attention from both supporters and critics.
While taking questions from reporters, the president was asked about a new Labor Department report showing that the consumer price index had risen 4.2 percent over the previous year and increased 0.5 percent in May alone.
Rather than expressing concern over the figures, Trump responded with a comment that immediately sparked controversy.
“No, I love it. The numbers are great,” Trump said. “I love the inflation.”
The statement generated backlash and prompted questions about how voters coping with rising costs might interpret the remark.
Appearing on CNN with Kaitlan Collins, Greene argued that the president’s words risked alienating Americans who are struggling financially amid ongoing economic pressures.
“It’s pretty hard to take from a billionaire president when he says he loves inflation brought on the American people because of a war that he decided to pursue,” Greene said.
The former congresswoman suggested that the comment could become a potent political talking point for Democrats.
“And that one’s going to come back and bite him,” she continued. “He basically just handed the Democrats a great, big campaign ad for the 2026 midterms.”
Greene’s criticism reflects a growing willingness to publicly challenge Trump, despite her long history as one of the most visible supporters of his Make America Great Again movement.
During the CNN interview, Greene emphasized the burden that rising prices place on ordinary Americans, particularly families attempting to keep up with everyday expenses.
“That’s a punch in the gut to every single American that is struggling to pay their bills, struggling to pay grocery prices and struggling to basically keep up while their credit card debt is mounting and mounting,” Greene told Collins.
The comments highlighted concerns that inflation continues to weigh heavily on many households regardless of broader political debates surrounding economic policy.
Trump later sought to clarify what he meant by his original statement. In an interview with The New York Post, the president explained that he was not celebrating inflation itself but was instead expressing relief that the latest figures were not worse.
“The numbers are going to be phenomenal because what’s showing is that despite the fact that we’re in a war, the numbers are much lower than anticipated, and when we’re out of that war, the numbers will be at lower numbers than they were even before it started,” Trump told the outlet.
Supporters of the president also pushed back on criticism of the remark.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended Trump during a conversation with CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill, arguing that the president’s statement had been misunderstood.
According to Johnson, Trump was attempting to compare current inflation figures with what he believes future numbers will look like once ongoing challenges are resolved.
“What he was saying is it’s going to be great to have that number and compare it to what comes next,” Johnson said. “When we get these situations resolved, that’ll be a fun thing to consider and compare.”
Still, Greene remained unconvinced, framing the issue as one of political messaging at a time when many Americans remain focused on the cost of living.
The exchange underscored a growing divide between Trump and one of his former allies, while also highlighting how economic concerns and the costs associated with ongoing conflict continue to shape the national political conversation.
[READ MORE: Inflation Climbs to Three-Year High as Energy Costs Rise Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict]
