Andrew Bates, a former spokesperson for ex-President Joe Biden, known for his staunch defense of the administration's economic policies, is joining forces with other political strategists to form a new group.
This group, known as the Cost Coalition, aims to shed light on the perceived negative impacts of Trump's economic policies, as initially reported by The Associated Press.
Bates, who has previously attributed disappointing economic results to factors beyond Biden's policies, will serve as a communications adviser for the Cost Coalition. The group plans to employ various strategies, including advertisements, social media, news interviews, and events, to disseminate critical perspectives on Trump's economy. Bates will collaborate with Terry Holt, a former spokesperson for ex-President George W. Bush and former House Speaker John Boehner, as reported by The Associated Press.
Bates has consistently championed Biden's economic strategies. In a March 2020 post, he asserted that Biden's economic policies prioritized the American middle class, despite the backdrop of historic inflation and escalating costs of household essentials. Bates further contended that Biden transformed America into "the most competitive economy in the world and brought jobs back from overseas."
However, under Biden's tenure, inflation reached a peak of 9.1% in June 2022. The cost of various staple goods rose during Biden's term, causing affordability issues for American households. Energy prices also saw a significant increase during the Biden administration due to restrictions on domestic oil and gas extraction and subsidies for intermittent green energy funded by taxpayers. Amidst these challenges, Bates argued in June 2022 that energy prices were a global issue and praised Biden's economic leadership for making the U.S. recovery "the envy of the world."
Despite the economic hardships faced by American households due to soaring inflation during Biden's four-year term, the Biden-Harris administration consistently maintained that their economic policies were beneficial to Americans. Bates echoed this sentiment, asserting in an April 30 post that Biden handed over "the best-performing economy in the world" to the Trump administration.
Bates also claimed that Biden fought against "corporate greed to lower prices for the middle class," contrasting this with Trump's alleged support for "big corporations' ability to overcharge the middle class."
The Cost Coalition presents itself as a "bipartisan initiative exposing how the Trump presidency is undermining the American Dream." The group advocates for an economy that offers everyone a fair chance and upholds American values both domestically and internationally. The coalition is committed to highlighting policies that drive up prices and proposing practical solutions to make life more affordable for working families.
Despite a more significant than expected decline in inflation in March, recent surveys suggest that many Americans are becoming increasingly critical of Trump's economic management in his second term. Experts have warned that Trump's extensive tariffs could potentially escalate the costs of groceries, clothing, and other goods in the U.S.
Several individuals associated with former Vice President Kamala Harris' unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign are leading the Cost Coalition. These include Austin Weatherford, the leader of "Republicans for Harris," Rev. Jennifer Butler, Harris' national faith and engagement director, Libby Jamison, the Harris campaign's national director of veteran and military family engagement, Leslie Gross, a veteran of the Obama-Biden administration, and George Holman, who served in the Biden-Harris administration, according to The Associated Press.
Following concerns raised by some Democrats about Biden's mental acuity after his poor performance in the June 2024 presidential debate, many of his aides, including Bates, defended him. Bates told The New York Times in July 2024 that the former president showed no signs of having Parkinson's disease and had never taken medication for the condition.
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