January 31 2026, 08:15 
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg slammed Donald Trump for saying that he wants to make housing even more expensive for Americans because people who can’t afford to buy homes right now don’t “work very hard” anyway.
“I don’t want to drive housing prices down,” Trump said at a January 29 Cabinet meeting. “I want to drive housing prices up for people who own homes. And they can be assured that’s what’s going to happen.”
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Trump’s comments put him firmly on what has been called the “NIMBY” side of the discussion of housing policy in the U.S. When there aren’t enough houses for everyone who wants to buy one, the price goes up as wealthier people bid up the cost of existing housing. Building more houses would drive down the prices of existing houses.
That’s good for people looking to enter the housing market, but many existing homeowners view their homes as investments, assets they believe should appreciate faster than inflation over time. NIMBYs oppose the construction of new housing, especially in tight markets, to keep the value of their houses high.
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“Existing housing, people that own their homes, we’re going to keep them wealthy,” Trump said. “We’re going to keep those prices up. We’re not going to destroy the value of their homes so that somebody who didn’t work very hard can buy a home.”
Trump: "I don't want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people who own homes."
— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2026-01-29T17:41:54.941Z
Buttigieg called out Trump, reminding people that he campaigned in 2024 on lowering the cost of living.
“First of all, build more housing,” Buttigieg said, then diving into how Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy have increased interest rates.
“I also think it was very revealing that his idea of somebody who wants to buy a home is somebody who doesn’t work very hard,” he continued. “Most of the people I know are working very hard.”
His actions have led to higher prices for groceries, housing, utility bills, and more.Of course the president will do anything to avoid talking about his economic failures.
— Pete Buttigieg (@petebuttigieg.bsky.social) 2026-01-30T04:38:33.599Z
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