In a stunning betrayal of his campaign promises, President Donald Trump has left American voters scrambling as egg prices soar to record highs, with no relief in sight.
Since Trump’s razor-thin victory in the November election—where he secured just 49% of the national vote—egg prices have skyrocketed by a staggering 61%, leaving families, restaurants, and businesses reeling.
The situation has become so dire that even Waffle House, the iconic 24-hour diner chain, has slapped a bright-yellow sticker on its laminated breakfast menus announcing a temporary 50-cent surcharge on every egg ordered.
The move by Waffle House, one of the first major chains to implement such surcharges, underscores the severity of the egg-cost crisis. Economists warn that the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon, as the ongoing bird flu outbreak continues to decimate egg-laying hen populations across the country.
The average price of a dozen eggs now hovers around $4, with some regions experiencing even steeper costs. For many Americans, eggs—once a staple of affordable nutrition—have become a luxury item.
“Broken Promises, Broken Plates”
During his campaign, Trump vowed to tackle rising food costs “on day one” of his presidency, a promise that now rings hollow as grocery bills continue to climb.
“Grocery prices have skyrocketed,” he said Trump, speaking in front of a table of packaged foods during an August press conference. “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one. We will drill, baby, drill. That’s going to bring down prices of everything.”
New Jersey anti-establishment Democrat Lisa McCormick called Trump “a con artist” who sold Americans a pack of lies so he could abolish government agencies that aim to make life more fair by sharing the nation’s prosperity with all the people.
“Donald Trump is a Robin Hood in reverse, ” said McCormick. “He is robbing the poor and middle-class to increase the wealth of greedy billionaires who are part of his radical oligarchy.”
His failure to address consumers’ chief economic issue has left voters furious, with many accusing him of abandoning the working-class Americans who propelled him to victory.
“He said he’d fix this. He said he’d bring prices down. But all he’s done is make it worse,” said Linda Martinez, a single mother of three. “I used to buy eggs every week. Now, I can’t afford them. It’s a slap in the face.”
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has attempted to shift blame to the Biden administration, citing the USDA’s decision to cull millions of egg-laying hens infected with bird flu. However, critics were quick to point out that similar measures were taken during Trump’s own presidency, making the deflection seem disingenuous at best.
The avian flu outbreak has been devastating, with over 110 million egg-laying hens lost to the disease or culled to prevent its spread since 2022. This has created a massive supply shortage, driving prices to unprecedented levels. Industry experts warn that the crisis is far from over, as the virus could resurge with the spring migration of wild birds.
“We’re in uncharted territory right now with egg prices,” said Patrick Penfield, a supply chain management professor at Syracuse University. “It’s going to take months for the industry to recover.”
The ripple effects are being felt across the economy. Restaurants, already struggling with inflation, are being forced to make tough decisions. Sam Manolakas, a partner at Brookfields Restaurants in California, said the price of a 15-dozen case of eggs has surged from $35 to $135 in just six months. As a result, the cost of a three-egg omelet has jumped from 60 cents to $2.25—before adding cheese or other ingredients.
“We’re really feeling the dollar crunch and the availability crunch,” Manolakas said. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of, ‘Can we get them?’”
A Nation Divided, Even at Breakfast
The egg crisis has become a symbol of broader economic discontent, reflecting the deep political divisions in the country. Trump’s narrow victory, with the second-closest popular-vote margin since 1968, highlights just how polarized the nation remains.
While Republicans have maintained control of the House and gained a slim majority in the Senate, there are signs that many voters who supported Trump did not extend their loyalty to other GOP candidates.
This political fragmentation has left many Americans feeling disillusioned.
“He promised us change, but all we’ve gotten is more of the same,” said James Carter, a small-business owner in Florida. “Eggs are just the tip of the iceberg. Everything is more expensive, and no one in Washington seems to care.”
Restaurants and Consumers at a Breaking Point
For restaurants, the egg price surge has forced creative—and often painful—adjustments. Some have turned to egg alternatives, while others have limited the number of eggs customers can purchase. Bon Temps Creole Cafe in San Luis Obispo, California, recently removed a $1-per-egg surcharge after finding a retail source selling eggs at half the wholesale price. But owner Philip Lang remains wary. “My next worry is, what if the new source starts limiting how much I can buy?” he said.
Meanwhile, grocery stores, which have long used eggs as “loss leaders” to attract shoppers, are struggling to maintain the illusion of affordability. “Eggs have historically been a cheap source of protein, and a lot of restaurants have built their business plan around that,” Lang said. “Now, that’s all falling apart.”
No End in Sight
With economists predicting that egg prices could rise another 20% by 2025, the crisis shows no signs of abating. For millions of Americans, the dream of affordable groceries—and a president who would deliver on his promises—seems further out of reach than ever.
As Waffle House’s spokesperson aptly put it, high egg prices are forcing everyone to make “difficult decisions.” But for voters who believed Trump’s promises, the most difficult decision may be deciding whether to give him their vote again.
One thing is clear: the egg-cost crisis has cracked open a deeper frustration with leadership in Washington, leaving Americans to wonder if anyone is truly looking out for their breakfast—or their bottom line.