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Thanksgiving Dinner: A Trump Tariff Special

It appears that Thanksgiving 2025 came with an extra helping of economic anxiety, courtesy of tariffs implemented during the Trump administration. While the White House might have been touting holiday promotions and "winning the war on high prices," the data paints a different picture, one where American families felt the pinch at the dinner table and beyond.

The Turkey Doesn't Lie

Let's start with the centerpiece: the turkey. The average price of a 15-pound bird reportedly reached $30, a 25% jump since October 2024. Purdue University researchers point to tariffs on imported food ingredients and agricultural inputs as a key culprit. Animal feed, comprising 60-70% of a producer's operating costs, relies on specialized mixtures with imported minerals and vitamins—ingredients directly impacted by these tariffs.

But here's where a deeper look is warranted. The Purdue researchers also mention bird flu outbreaks, which culled over seven million commercial fowl this year. The claim is that only tariffs caused the price hike, but is that really the case? How much did bird flu contribute, and how much was directly attributable to the tariffs? It's hard to isolate the precise impact of each factor, but the administration's claim of "winning the war on high prices" seems dubious at best.

Furthermore, the pain extended beyond the bird itself. Imported coffee beans cost 18–22% more, cocoa and chocolate products rose 15–20%, and even canned vegetables and fruits from tariffed countries saw a 10–14% increase. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, essential for that pumpkin pie, climbed 12–18%. These aren't just luxuries; they're staples of a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Travel Troubles and Credit Card Swipes

The financial burden didn't stop at the grocery store. Thanksgiving is a peak travel period, and families were shelling out more than ever to gather. Airfares rose 3.2%, a figure made worse by the residual effects of a government shutdown that grounded over 10% of flights in October (the longest shutdown in US history, if you're keeping track).

The question is, was the shutdown truly a result of the Trump administration's policies, or were there other factors at play? Regardless, the timing couldn't have been worse for holiday travelers.

Faced with these rising costs, many Americans reportedly turned to credit cards, potentially pushing consumer debt to new highs. Consumer debt already peaked in Q3 2025 at $1.233 trillion, and this Thanksgiving surge likely compounded the problem. This reliance on credit isn't just a personal finance issue; it's a warning sign for the broader economy.

And this is the part of the report that I find genuinely puzzling: The administration quietly cut tariffs on 200 food products last week—a tacit admission that their policies were, in fact, hurting American households. The move feels like a band-aid on a much larger wound, a silent acknowledgement of a problem they had previously denied.

The human cost of this economic squeeze is perhaps best illustrated by the New York Times piece, "America, the Hungry - The New York Times". The feeling of an empty stomach is different than feeling hungry. The headaches, the throbbing, the utter inability to focus. People are skipping meals, relying on food banks, and facing the impossible choice between paying bills and feeding their families. The stark reality is that, for many, Thanksgiving was a reminder of what they couldn't afford, rather than a celebration of abundance.

A Feast of Discontent

The data suggests the "America First" trade policies have backfired, resulting in a Thanksgiving marked by financial strain for many families. The administration's narrative of economic success clashes sharply with the reality of rising prices and increased debt. What does it say about the state of the nation when a holiday meant to celebrate gratitude becomes a source of anxiety and hardship?

The "Great Again" Myth: Debunked

The numbers don't lie: Trump's tariffs made Thanksgiving more expensive, and his last-minute reversals smack of desperation.