At a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last night, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that the administration’s mass deportations are helping drive down housing costs, asserting that “rents have come down significantly.”

Bessent went on to say rents are about 5% lower than their peak under President Biden. Even if accurate, a 5% dip from peak prices falls far short of what most renters would consider “significant,” and it does not return rents anywhere near pre-pandemic levels.

Reactions to Scott Bessent’s Rent Claim

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Housing analysts also note that deportations can increase construction labor shortages, pushing up building and renovation costs, a factor that tends to raise, not lower, housing prices over time.

GOP Rep. Admits Trump Hasn’t Lowered Prices Read

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