Voters wanted lower inflation in 2024. Many of them cast their ballots for Donald Trump to return, perhaps thinking some combination of corporate deregulation and the second term president’s supposed business prowess would deliver us back to the halcyon days of $.99 eggs and gasoline. Trump certainly paid plenty of lip service to lower prices during the campaign.
Instead, commodity prices are soaring, consumer confidence is in freefall, and, in classic 2025 fashion, the snarkier corners of the internet have a response: Trump take egg.
The meme has spread especially fast on Bluesky, now home to millions of Twitter expats. The simple formulation of “Trump take egg” (also mirrored in “Trump crash plane,” “DOGE steal data,” and other tongue-in-cheek posts) seems designed to cut through online noise with a simple message, something Democrats have repeatedly failed to do. As egg prices soar, it’s also a message with potential for online resonance.
Locally, Trump also “take egg” — while Greater Pittsburgh’s eggs are cheaper than the $8.07 national average, egg prices here are still north of $5 (Pittsburgh City Paper compared across multiple local grocers, including ALDI, Giant Eagle/Market District, and Whole Foods — $5.99 seems to be the current local median). Many stores, including Trader Joe’s, are unable to keep shelves full. Local diners have begun adding surcharges to offset soaring wholesale costs. In short, Trump take egg.
The causes are the same locally as they are nationally: avian influenza, anxiety about tariffs, and corporate price gouging.
Avian influenza (aka H5N1 or bird flu) could pose the most serious threat to the national egg supply, as well as the people who want more egg, but there’s good news in the short term for area residents, says Ronnie Das, Allegheny County’s public health information officer.
While bird flu has definitely reached Pennsylvania and neighboring Ohio, as of this writing, “there have not been any known human cases of H5N1 in the county,” Das tells City Paper via email. “No animals in Allegheny [County] have tested positive for H5N1 to date.”
There are some concerns — Das advises residents not to touch sick or dead wild birds and to report them to the PA Game Commission at 833-742-4868 or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov, who can test them for H5N1. He also suggests avoiding raw milk and other unpasteurized products, and keeping pet cats away from uncooked meat.
“We recommend testing for any exposed persons who report symptoms or for exposed persons who were not wearing protective equipment at time of exposure,” Das adds. “[Allegheny County Health Department] can provide testing if [a] person doesn’t have easy access to [a] healthcare provider. ACHD monitors any exposed resident(s) daily for 10 days after last exposure.” ACHD continues to maintain a respiratory virus dashboard, which currently shows high rates of infection with influenza A.
Bird migration and integrated supply chains means H5N1 is likely to stick around for a while in some form. However, shopping local could be one way to avoid exposure — and eat better to boot.
“Wholesome food from small suppliers is far, far more resilient to outbreaks and supply-chain issues,” Chris Loughran of Chantal’s Cheese Shop tells CP. “We saw that through the pandemic, and that is true now. Of course, eventually, the further stripping away of what little exists of regulatory oversight of our food systems in favor of large-scale industrial agriculture will continue to do things like accelerate climate change and put more price pressure [on consumers].”
Loughran also acknowledges that tariff “disgruntlement” could impact their imports, but, for now, he says smaller local businesses, including grocery service Harvie, have been able to keep egg prices stable.
But restaurants, wholesalers, and shoppers at chain grocers will likely continue to feel the pinch of Trump taking egg. Even with locals studying a potential vaccine, H5N1 has continued to spread, and grocery store egg shelves remain stubbornly empty. That’s led to limits on purchases, consumer worries, and even ridiculous stunts such as realtors offering potential homebuyers eggs with their purchase.
And, of course, “Trump take egg” memes from the Democratic National Committee on down. Come what may — a pandemic, full-blown fascism, or eggs at $10 a dozen — at least we’ll have something to laugh about while we wait for our $40 omelets.
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2025.
