Trump jokes about Mar-a-Lago prices during Texas rally

President Donald Trump told voters in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday that they likely could not afford a meal at his private Mar-a-Lago resort. He made the comment while discussing a campaign pledge to issue $5,000 checks to adult Americans if Republicans keep control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.

“The problem,” Trump said, “is that for $5,000 the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert. I’m not even sure you could buy that.” He added that the resort was not a good place for those who are price-conscious. The audience laughed as he noted that the food at the club would be out of reach for many.

The remarks came as national food prices continue to rise. An analysis from the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., found that grocery prices have increased by 2.6% since the president signed the Republican budget legislation last year. The report listed specific items rising faster than wages, which grew 3% in September 2026. Apples rose 7.5%, coffee 7.1%, fish 6.9%, and tomatoes 6.8%. Ground beef increased 5.4%, rice 4.3%, peanut butter 3.8%, and bread 3.3%.

Warren’s office attributed the price hikes to the administration’s tariffs and a war with Iran. The analysis stated that rising transportation and fertilizer costs are putting additional pressure on food supply. The senator’s team described the policies as a key driver of these increases.

Federal nutrition aid programs are also feeling the strain of recent budget cuts. Katie Bergh, an expert at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said about 2 million children lost SNAP benefits since deep cuts were enacted last year. She noted that losing SNAP often means losing automatic enrollment for free school meals.

The AFL-CIO responded to Trump’s comments in a public statement. The union wrote that working people are struggling with rent and groceries while the president sells a $5,000 hamburger at his golf club. The statement added a parenthetical note that fries and a drink would cost extra. Jordan Uhl, a progressive activist, also commented on the timing of the rally, noting it occurred days after former President Barack Obama mocked White House renovations.

Uhl posted on social media that mocking decor at a chain restaurant was elitist, but bragging about unaffordable club food raised questions. The comments highlight the tension between the administration’s fiscal policies and the immediate costs facing households in Anchorage and across the country.