Scott Jennings Shuts Down CNN’s Inflation Spin in Fiery Clash [WATCH]

Republican strategist Scott Jennings challenged CNN panelists Monday night, dismissing their criticism of former President Donald Trump’s handling of inflation.

Jennings pushed back against talk-show host Solomon Jones and former Hillary Clinton campaign aide Karen Finney after they claimed Trump had failed to lower prices, despite campaigning on the issue.

The discussion took place against the backdrop of continued economic struggles under Joe Biden.

Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.0% year-over-year in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while grocery prices have climbed 23.6% since 2020, per the Department of Agriculture.

During the exchange, Jones criticized Trump, saying, “It was funny that he said, you know, he said, ‘Yes, I‘m going to cut government. I’m going to cut waste. I’m going to cut fraud. I’m going to…’ — you know what else he said he was going to cut? Prices. That hasn’t happened. That’s not what —”

Before Jones could finish, Jennings interjected, “You want that in four weeks?” referring to the short time Trump has been back in office.

Jones and Finney continued their criticism, with Jones stating that instead of reducing prices, Trump had fired 75,000 federal workers.

Finney added, “He got rid of the whole agency,” pointing to the Trump administration’s decision to lay off over 90% of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) workforce after a review by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Jennings challenged their argument, stating, “Do you think it is a legitimate political debating point for the previous administration to have overseen historic inflation for four years, and then you to come out and say, ‘Four weeks, I guess Trump‘s a failure?’”

Jones countered by claiming, “He said, ‘On day one, I will lower your grocery prices,’ and he has not done it, prices have gone up.”

Economic data from multiple agencies paint a stark picture of the inflationary pressures Americans have faced under the Biden-Harris administration.

The price of eggs has nearly doubled since November 2023, according to data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, following a widespread culling of chickens due to a bird flu outbreak.

Energy and grocery costs have remained high, straining household budgets.

Jennings acknowledged economic concerns but pointed out that Trump had already taken action through executive orders.

“A lot of his executive orders were aimed at energy, which is, I think, the fastest thing he can do — energy regulations,” Jennings explained.

“But really, what he does now over the next couple of months with the Congress, I mean, his real agenda will come in the reconciliation bill: taxes, energy, immigration.”

Jennings emphasized that major policy changes would depend on congressional action in the coming months.

“I mean, the stuff he really ran on, that’s where the real policy rubber hits the road and he’s going to have to get these guys in Congress to go along with him, and they’re obviously, you know, working on it right now,” Jennings said. “But if they cannot get that done, that will be a problem. But I think they’ll get there.”

The discussion shined a spotlight on a broader debate over inflation, federal spending, and economic policy.

While liberal panelists sought to cast Trump as failing to deliver on campaign promises, Jennings made clear that Biden’s record on inflation left little room for criticism.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.