A new Census Bureau report shows that poverty, including child poverty, increased during the Biden administration (2021–2024), contradicting claims by politicians and commentators that economic conditions were strong under Biden. According to the report, 44 million Americans—including 10 million children—lived in poverty in 2024. While the poverty rate held steady from 2023 to 2024, longer-term comparisons reveal significant increases:
Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic):
Poverty increased by 9.3% (+5.4 million people)
Child poverty increased by 6.3% (+491,000 children)
Compared to 2020 (pandemic aid peak):
Poverty increased by 40.2% (+13.7 million people)
Child poverty increased by 38.1% (+2.5 million children)
These increases are partly due to the expiration of pandemic-era welfare programs that had temporarily reduced poverty to historic lows, particularly in 2021 under Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The report suggests that while Democrats know how to reduce poverty, they have chosen not to continue those policies, even as the cost of living remains a top concern. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposed solutions involve austerity and authoritarian tactics. The author criticizes political elites and media figures who dismissed public concern about economic hardship, implying that such denial may have contributed to public disillusionment with both major parties.
https://jacobin.com/2025/09/biden-child-poverty-economy-trump/
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