“What?”: Trump Reacts to Barber’s $15,000 Utility Bill, But the Story Takes a Twist
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Spencer Platt
During a campaign stop in the Bronx this week, former President Donald Trump was stunned by a barber’s complaint about his skyrocketing utility bill under President Joe Biden’s administration. However, it appears that the barber, Javier Rodriguez, left out crucial details about his situation, which have since been clarified.
Rodriguez, the owner of a barbershop, shared his frustration directly with Trump, saying, “My issue was more energy. I’ve been paying $2,100 since I first opened up, and in the last seven months it shot up to $15,000.” Trump, visibly surprised, responded with an incredulous “What?” — a reaction echoed by many on social media.
Rodriguez’s statement raised eyebrows, particularly among those familiar with the actual rise in utility costs in New York City. Con Edison, the utility company responsible for electricity in the city, has seen only a modest increase in the price per kilowatt-hour over the past decade. Rates have gone from 9 cents to 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, an increase that does not align with the more than 600 percent jump Rodriguez described.
The Real Story Behind the $15,000 Bill
The staggering increase in Rodriguez’s utility bill prompted New York Times reporter Ashley Southall to investigate the details of the situation. Southall’s findings revealed a critical piece of information that had been omitted in the initial conversation between the barber and Trump.
“IT TURNS OUT: Javier Rodriguez, the Bronx barber with a $15,000 utility bill, is the unlucky victim of a billing error, according to Con Edison, the city’s utility for electric, gas, and steam,” Southall reported. “A spokesman said that the company has been working with him to resolve it.”
This new context sheds light on why Rodriguez’s bill increased so dramatically. Rather than being a direct result of rising energy costs under the Biden administration, the spike was due to a mistake in the utility billing process, which Con Edison has acknowledged and is actively working to fix.
Trump’s Focus on Inflation Amid Misleading Anecdotes
Trump has been making inflation a central theme of his campaign as he seeks re-election. He often points to rising costs as a sign of economic mismanagement under President Biden. However, Rodriguez’s story, while initially appearing to support Trump’s narrative, turned out to be more about a specific error rather than a broader trend in energy costs.
While inflation has indeed been a concern, it’s worth noting that inflation rates have significantly cooled in the past year. Wages have also outpaced price increases for many Americans, countering the narrative that inflation is spiraling out of control. Moreover, economists widely warn that Trump’s proposed tariffs on consumer goods, part of his campaign platform, could trigger a dramatic rise in prices for American households — further complicating his position on inflation.
Rodriguez’s utility bill story may have grabbed attention, but with the clarification that it was a billing error, it underscores the importance of looking beyond headlines and digging into the facts when discussing the economy and everyday challenges faced by Americans.
