Anti-Trumpers Form Cost Coalition

A bipartisan group of critics of President Donald Trump announced the formation of the Cost Coalition, a new organization aimed at highlighting Trump’s challenges in managing rising economic costs during the early months of his second presidency. 

The group’s launch was reported by multiple outlets, including The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, and The Hindu, and was framed as a response to Trump’s economic policies, particularly his tariffs and proposed tax cuts, which the coalition claims are driving inflation and threatening economic stability.

Mission and Strategy: The Cost Coalition seeks to draw attention to what it describes as Trump’s failure to control inflation and stabilize the economy, accusing his policies of exacerbating price increases and risking a recession. The group plans to amplify its message through:

• Paid advertising to reach broad audiences.
• Social media campaigns to engage voters online.
• Press interviews to shape public discourse.
• On-the-ground events with small business leaders, veterans, and faith communities to highlight real-world economic impacts.

The Cost Coalition is led by a team of veteran political operatives, many of whom played significant roles in Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign. Key figures include:

• Austin Weatherford, a Republican strategist who led “Republicans for Harris,” bringing a conservative perspective to the bipartisan effort.
• Rev. Jennifer Butler, Harris’ national faith and engagement director, focusing on outreach to religious communities.
• Libby Jamison, the Harris campaign’s national director of veteran and military family engagement, targeting veterans’ economic concerns.
• Leslie Gross, a political strategist from the Obama-Biden administration, contributing Democratic expertise.
• George Holman, a former Biden administration official, adding policy experience.

The Cost Coalition is structured as a project of the American Values Alliance, operating as a nonprofit with a hybrid political action committee (PAC). This structure allows it to engage in both advocacy and political activities without fully disclosing all funding sources. A spokesperson revealed that the group has received “seed contributions” from large donors in both parties but plans to rely heavily on grassroots donations. Specific funding details were not disclosed, raising questions about transparency.

The coalition has been vocal in its critique of Trump’s economic agenda, particularly focusing on two key policies:

• Tariffs: The group labels Trump’s tariffs, including a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico implemented on March 5, 2025, as “the biggest middle-class tax hike in modern history.” They argue these tariffs have caused prices for everyday goods, such as imported tomatoes and consumer products, to “skyrocket,” hurting businesses and consumers. The tariffs, part of a broader trade war, are blamed for a 0.3% economic contraction in the first quarter of 2025.
• Tax Cuts: The coalition criticizes Trump’s proposed tax cuts for the wealthy as “grossly inflationary,” claiming they will increase the national debt and burden future generations. They argue these cuts prioritize the affluent over the middle class, exacerbating economic inequality.