Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov is calling out President Donald Trump for focusing on cultural issues instead of the economy, making her criticism especially direct and pointed.
“The American people did not elect Donald Trump to become the curator of the Smithsonian,” Tarlov wrote on X. “They elected him to lower costs (which he’s failing at).”
Slavery Debate Sparks Criticism
Tarlov’s comments came alongside a segment from “The Five,” in which she took issue with Trump’s recent attention to how slavery is portrayed in American history.
“Trump wants to become the curator of the Smithsonian and… this relentless focus on how bad slavery was—that they have taken up—that is not a winning argument,” she said during the broadcast.
She referenced Florida’s controversial curriculum that suggested slavery had “benefits” for Black people, such as teaching them useful skills.
“Even Byron Donalds went on TV and was like no, we don’t need to be doing that,” she said, referring to the Republican congressman who publicly disagreed with the state’s approach.
Tarlov emphasized that while Trump has seen growing support among minority voters, his priorities are misplaced.
“We didn’t hire him to be the curator of the Smithsonian. There are people far more qualified to tell that story,” she said.
She added, “It should be okay to say Robert E. Lee is a traitor and we should get his statue down. It should be okay to just talk about slavery as one of the worst things in certainly American history and world history.”
Walmart Says Tariffs Are Raising Prices
Tarlov’s remarks come as major retailers are also sounding the alarm about Trump’s policies.
Walmart, the country’s largest retailer, warned that Trump’s tariffs on countries like China, Mexico, Vietnam and India are pushing up its costs.
“As we replenish inventory at post-tariff price levels, we’ve continued to see our costs increase each week, which we expect will continue into the third and fourth quarters,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during a recent earnings call.
Even though Walmart has seen more foot traffic from customers looking for bargains, the company said its operating profits have taken a hit.
Operating profit fell 8.2% to $7.3 billion in the second quarter, partly due to rising costs linked to tariffs.
Walmart has long positioned itself as a shield against inflation for everyday Americans.
But despite efforts to keep prices low, the company said inflation in its U.S. stores rose 1.1% year over year, more than double the previous quarter.
McMillon said price hikes tied to tariffs are impacting middle- and lower-income customers the most.
“Not surprisingly, we see more adjustments in middle- and lower-income households than we do with higher-income households,” he said.
Sales of nonessential items, or what Walmart calls “discretionary categories,” have declined. Customers are changing what they buy or switching to cheaper alternatives.
Political and Economic Pressure Builds
The economic impact of tariffs has caught the attention of investors and economists who are watching for signs of inflation ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is expected to address the topic during a speech in Jackson Hole this week.
President Trump has pushed back on claims that tariffs are inflationary, insisting they will not drive up consumer prices. He has also criticized companies like Walmart for suggesting otherwise.
Still, the disconnect between Trump’s cultural focus and the economic realities facing Americans is drawing criticism from both political commentators and corporate leaders.
Tarlov stated plainly that Trump was elected to reduce everyday costs, and she believes “he’s failing at” that goal.
Her remarks tap into growing frustration over whether Trump’s priorities match what voters are actually worried about—like high prices and day-to-day expenses.
With inflation still a major concern and the election getting closer, this gap between what’s being said and what people are feeling could become a big issue for Trump and his critics alike.
IMAGE CREDIT: “President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks on the Administration’s tariff plans” by Abe McNatt, The White House. Licensed under U.S. Government Work. Image adjusted for layout.