Donald Trump continues to try to quell affordability concerns, and this time he was talking about housing during a cabinet meeting. The president left eyebrows raised when he said he wants to keep housing “prices up,” as millions of Americans fear never being able to own a house.
On Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order that would impede Wall Street from competing with single-family homebuyers. Trump has faced multiple accusations that he’s not living up to his campaign promises, but this was a welcome move that would finally address housing affordability concerns. However, recent reports have since come out suggesting that Trump’s plan to make housing accessible is not as direct as simply making it cheaper would imply.
The Trump initiative had actually ordered government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase up to $450 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) so they can control mortgage payments for new homeowners. Additionally, Trump expressed that he would be looking into opening up large tracts of federal land for the construction of “new cities” with low taxes.
In the recent cabinet meeting, Trump was asked by the media why he didn’t consider finding ways to lower prices for homeowners. The president said that was never his plan. Trump said, “We’re going to make it easier to buy. We’re going to get interest rates down, but I want to protect the people who, for the first time in their lives, feel good about themselves. They feel like wealthy people. I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for the people who own their homes.”
Meanwhile, a recent report by Zillow reveals that in the coming year, home prices are expected to rise by a further 1.9%, and the median age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 59 years old. Before he took office, there were suggestions that withdrawals from 401(k)s and college savings accounts could be allowed for use as down payments for first-time buyer relief — but that, too, was missing from the final executive order.
For critics, this can only mean one thing: the American Dream of owning a home has now been deferred to a nation of lifelong renters. Prioritizing higher prices for people who already own homes exacerbates the crisis for younger would-be buyers and even renters. Some are already reading this as yet another instance of Trump failing to live up to his promises.
On X, some were furious. One user wrote, “He looks straight at a nation priced out of shelter — and promises to make it worse. On purpose. With a smile. A family refreshing listings at midnight. A young couple counting savings. A renter watching the dream die in real time.” Another suggested he had just lost every voter under 40 in the upcoming midterm elections. One brutally pointed out that if you already couldn’t afford a house, you can truly forget about owning one now.
He looks straight at a nation priced out of shelter — and promises to make it worse. On purpose. With a smile.
— AnatolijUkraine (@AnatoliUkraine) January 29, 2026
A family refreshing listings at midnight. A young couple counting savings. A renter watching the dream die in real time.
And somewhere above them, a man in a gold…
Dude just lost every voter under 40
— PGG (ProphetGG) (@codeProphetGG) January 29, 2026
More property taxes!
— TheRohanian
Yay!
That also means higher rents.
The property owner passes that onto the renter.
"Can't afford a house? Now you REALLY won't be able to afford a house!"(@TRohanian) January 29, 2026
Ultimately, when Trump mentioned that he considers the concept of affordability a “hoax” created by the Democrats, he should have been taken at his word.
