Pelosi Slammed for Saying 'We Have to Change that Subject' from Inflation

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was criticized on Sunday for downplaying inflation, which reached a rate of 8.2 percent in September—higher than the expected figure of 8.1 percent.

CBS News host Margaret Brennan asked Pelosi on Face the Nation on Sunday about her thoughts on projections that Republicans will win control the House in the upcoming midterm election. "How do you shift the momentum?" Brennan asked.

Pelosi responded with a long answer, in which she mentioned inflation and described it as a global issue.

"The fact is... when I hear people talk about inflation... we have to change that subject. Inflation is a global phenomenon," Pelosi said.

She was criticized online by a number of social media users including Representative Bryon Donalds, a Florida Republican, who posted to Twitter to blame Democrats for inflation and the increase in living costs, which he said is "crushing working-class families." Donalds said "they will VOTE Pelosi & the rest of them out on Nov. 8."

"'We have to change the subject when it comes to inflation,' says the lady who owns a $24K freezer stashed w/ $15 ice cream," he tweeted.

Arthur Schwartz, another Twitter user, wrote: "Nancy Pelosi doesn't want people talking about inflation."

"Nancy Pelosi does not want you to talk about inflation. Focus on dUh UkRaInE and cLiMaTe you worthless peasants," Twitter user Ian Smith said.

Meanwhile during her Sunday interview, Pelosi argued that "the fight is not about inflation. It's about the cost of living."

Comedian Tim Young included that remark as he slammed the speaker in a tweet: "'The fight is not about inflation, it's about the cost of living.' -Nancy Pelosi, who thinks you're too stupid to know that inflation directly impacts the cost of living."

Pelosi explained in the Face the Nation interview that despite the rising living costs, efforts have been made to help "bring down the cost of prescription drugs... bring down the cost of energy and the rest in our legislation." The top House Democrat said "you will see that that has been opposed every step of the way by the Republicans, and they have no plan for lowering the cost of living or helping with inflation."

"The E.U., the European Union, the U.K., the British, have higher inflation rate than we do here," she added.

The annual inflation rate in the United Kingdom increased to 10.1 percent in September compared to 9.9 percent in the month prior, according to Trading Economics. The country's Office for National Statistics said that the Consumer Prices Index rate reached 0.5 percent in September, higher than the 0.3 percent in September 2021.

Meanwhile, the European Union's annual inflation rate rose to 10.9 percecnt in September compared to 10.1 percent in the month prior, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The inflation rate in the U.S. has been fueled by multiple factors, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, according to experts.

"Thanks to a strong job market and generous federal stimulus, consumers are in spending mode," Daniel Roccato, a clinical professor of finance at the University of San Diego, told Newsweek. "But while demand for goods and services is up across the board, supply has not kept pace. Add in a horrific war and supply chain issues and you get global inflation."

High Inflation Rate May Help Republicans

However, a high inflation rate is good news for Republicans in the upcoming midterms as they attract potential voters on key issues related to economy and crime. Republicans have blamed Democrats for the country's economic woes—including high gas prices—as well as rising crime across the nation.

Meanwhile, the Democratic party has blamed the GOP for opposing abortion rights, an issue that came to the forefront after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June—ending the federal right for women to have abortions.

Republicans' efforts to campaign on the economy and crime might be working out, according to a new ABC News/IPSOS poll. The survey data revealed that 38 percent of registered voters said they trust Republicans more on the economy, while 24 percent said they trust Democrats more.

Meanwhile, when asked about inflation, 38 percent of registered voters trusted the GOP to slow down inflation, while 21 percent said they trusted Democrats more to adequately address the issue. The poll surveyed 618 registered voters from October 21 to 22 and has a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.

Newsweek reached out to Pelosi's office for comment.