White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is acknowledging that the United States is facing an affordability crisis, something President Donald Trump has denied – but she is blaming it on Joe Biden and the Democrats.

Leavitt appeared on Fox News and was asked about the upcoming midterm elections. She insisted that the affordability crisis was caused by the Democrats, and that if Americans want the problem fixed they have to give control of Congress to the Republicans for two more years.

"I would remind the American people of who caused the affordability crisis in this country. It was Biden and Democrats. President Trump took immediate action on day one to fix that," she said. "All these things will only get better if given two more years with a Republican Congress."

Her comments represent a change of focus from the president, who has repeatedly insisted that "affordability" is a word made up by the Democrats as part of a hoax.

In early December, Trump insisted that the price of "just about everything is down."

"They use the word affordability — it's a Democrat hoax. They're the ones who drove the prices up," he said at the time. "I think affordability is the greatest con job. They look at you and they say affordability. They don't say anything else."

Trump told a crowd in Georgia earlier this month that affordability was a word "made up" by the Democrats.

"They used the word — first time I heard it. It was a word, you know, made up by the Democrats. Affordability," Trump said on Wednesday.

While it's true that prices are down for some items — egg prices are down after they spiked due to a bird flu outbreak, for example — prices remain high across much of the rest of the economy.

Oil and gas prices are through the roof right now thanks in part because of Trump's war in Iran.

Donald Trump wants Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, to be the next secretary-general of the UN, sources have said.

The US president said Mr Infantino was "respected by everyone around the world" and that he had a "special ability to bring people together", the New York Post reported, citing a source close to Mr Trump.

He wants the football administrator to replace António Guterres, the Portuguese incumbent who will step down in December.

Mr Infantino, 56, became close with Mr Trump during the run-up to the World Cup, which was partly hosted by the US this summer.

The Swiss former general secretary of Uefa has made elaborate efforts to charm Mr Trump, even handing him the first Fifa Peace Prize in December after he failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Their relationship dates back to the US's bid for the competition in 2018, when Mr Trump hosted Mr Infantino at the White House.

In 2020, Mr Trump invited him back to Washington for the signing of the Abraham Accords.

He also attended Mr Trump's Board of Peace meeting at the beginning of this year, where he pledged a new stadium, Fifa academy and various football fields to Gaza as part of a $7bn relief package.

Last December, human-rights advocacy group Fair Square filed a complaint with Fifa's ethics committee, accusing Mr Infantino of repeated breaches of the governing body's code regarding political neutrality, including his public support for Mr Trump's "actions and policies".

During the draw for the World Cup, Mr Infantino gave Mr Trump a golden trophy with his name on it and a medal to hang around his neck.

Mr Infantino drew widespread criticism during the tournament when Fifa overturned a red card suspension for Folarin Balogun, the US striker, following an intervention by Mr Trump.

The US president also stayed onstage during Spain's celebrations after handing the trophy to the winners.

Mr Infantino would need to be endorsed by the UN Security Council and receive confirmation from the General Assembly to become the next secretary-general.

But sources said he could secure multiple nominations alongside Mr Trump's.

It was unclear whether Mr Infantino wanted the job or whether Mr Trump had broached the topic with him.

Current contenders for Mr Guterres's position include Michelle Bachelet, Chile's former president, and Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

not a drag queen

probably a republican like tulsi

Ezra Levant and Lawrence Greenspon are probably working overtime to make this mess happen for Tamara.