CNN Frames Inflation Differently Under Biden, Trump
CNN posted two short updates about inflation. One was in March 2023. The other was in January 2026. The numbers changed a lot. The tone changed, too.
In March 2023 CNN wrote: “US inflation is still high, but it’s falling,” noting that the previous month’s “Consumer Price Index measured 6%, down from January’s 6.4%.” That phrasing sounds like progress. It framed a 6% inflation rate as something improving.
Fast-forward to January 2026. CNN posted: “US inflation remained at 2.7% in December, underscoring persistent cost of living challenges.” That wording reads more negative. It highlights ongoing pain even though the rate is lower than in 2023.
People on social media noticed. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips shared an image that put the two posts side by side. The comparison went viral. The point many commenters made was simple: similar reports, very different tone.
Here are the posts being referenced (original links preserved):
How CNN frames 6% inflation under Joe Biden vs. 2.7% inflation under Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/aei8JnQEl5
— Cabot Phillips (@cabot_phillips) January 13, 2026
For CNN, a 6% inflation rate under Biden was considered good, but a 2% inflation rate under Trump is considered bad. pic.twitter.com/2b4N5ajHTn
— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) January 14, 2026
CNN under Biden: 6% inflation — “still high, but falling.”
CNN under President Trump: 2.7% inflation — “persistent cost-of-living challenges.”Same outlet. Same CPI report. Completely different tone based on who’s in office, not what the numbers actually show.
People are tired… pic.twitter.com/E7M3PP92ey
— Evelio Silvera (@eveliosilvera) January 14, 2026
This is why @CNN and much of the mainstream press is to be totally ignored. Look at how CNN covers Biden’s runaway inflation compared to Trump’s amazing work to curb it. What a joke. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/HyqC78zohi
— Alex Triantafilou 🇺🇸🐘🇺🇸 (@ChairmanAlex) January 14, 2026
CNN Fake News https://t.co/BqzCkaBCac
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 14, 2026
Framing matters. Short sentences and a few word choices can change how readers feel about the same basic data. That’s not new. Editors and social teams pick angles. Still, seeing the two lines side-by-side makes the shift obvious.
Numbers are one thing. Presentation is another. A 6% CPI drop to 6% from 6.4% was labeled “still high, but falling.” A 2.7% reading later is presented as proof that costs remain a problem. Both statements can be true at once. Both can also be read as examples of different editorial emphasis depending on context or who’s in office.
People will draw their own conclusions. Some will say it’s media bias. Others will point to context around the economy, wages, housing, and global pressures. The comparison does show how short posts and tone shape public perception. That’s worth noticing when you read headlines and social updates.