- Most Americans can only afford their weekly grocery shop on finance, many falling into debt through multiple loans.
- At the same time, Donald Trump continues to spend billions on war efforts to serve the interest of Israel.
According to Lending Tree data released on Friday, over half of Americans are financing their Groceries with buy now pay later Loans, yet the Trump Administration continues to spend billions to serve Israel
Loans which allow American consumers to split up purchases in local supermarkets are becoming increasingly populour. This method of payment has even become a popular alternative to credit cards as they often don’t charge interest. However, consumers can see high fees if they pay late, and they can run into problems if they stack up multiple loans. In Lending Tree’s survey, 60% of BNPL users said they’ve had multiple loans at once, with nearly a fourth saying they have held three or more at once.
From April 2-3 2,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 79 were surveyed. Approximately half reported having used buy now, pay later services. Of those consumers, 25% of respondents said they were using BNPL loans to buy groceries, up from 14% in 2024 and 21% in 2023, the firm said.
Moreover, 41% of respondents said they made a late payment on a BNPL loan in the past year, up from 34% in the year prior, the survey found.
Meanwhile, Trump’s bloodlust continues; the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Iran since the US-Israeli attacks began. Within the first six days of war on Iran cost America $12.7bn. One Tomahawk missile alone costs $3.5M. Six days into the war in Iran, the US had used over 300 Tomahawk missiles, according to estimates from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The Pentagon stated that more than 15,000 targets in the country had been hit in the first two weeks. The estimated cost of the offensive strike munitions alone is $5.5bn.
By 3 March, Iran launched 2,500 drones and missiles in retaliation. Air defence cost an estimated $5.7bn for interceptors like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). Adding in US combat losses of $1.4bn and operations costs of $27m, the first six days of the war is estimated to have cost $12.7bn.
This war continues to cost the White House billions upon billions, while Americans at home are left to shoulder the burden of a rising cost of living. American families are struggling to afford basic necessities, wages are stretched thin, and more people are turning to credit or financing just to get by. It is a stark reality that highlights how disconnected government spending is in relation to putting America first.
At its core, this is about priorities. Vast sums are directed towards funding Israel’s interests, while many American citizens are overlooked in their own country. For those struggling to pay for food, rent, and bills, the imbalance is impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to court outrage with little restraint. He threatens war crimes, posts tweets mocking Islam, and talks about war whilst standing next to the Easter bunny. Furthermore, he started a war without a clear plan, without any care for those at home who poured their faith and trust in him; stumbling forward without direction while the ramifications grow more serious. Time and time again, Trump struggles to recall his own words in public, contradicting himself and losing track of his message. Consequently, the question is no longer subtle. Can the President of the United States be described as senile, showing clear signs of mental and cognitive decline? Yet, somehow, none of this seems to matter. Trump’s grip on the MAGA base is so strong that he continues to act with total impunity with much support. More importantly, this is an indictment of a system that no longer holds its leader to account, irrespective of the average American not being able to do a weekly grocery shop without finance. The American political system looks deeply broken, unable or unwilling to respond. Even after years in power, there is no real prospect of removal of the orange man – no meaningful check on his actions. And to make matters worse for Mr Jazz hands (who can’t seem to put his phone down), America-Israel are continuing to lose this war.
