Trump Downplays 50-Year Mortgage Proposal as Housing Fix
President Donald Trump downplayed the potential impact of a proposed 50-year mortgage option as a solution to America’s housing affordability crisis during an interview on Fox News Monday night. Speaking on The Ingraham Angle, Trump said, “All it means is you pay less per month. You pay it over a longer period of time. It’s not like a big factor. It might help a little bit.”
Trump placed the blame for current housing affordability challenges on Joe Biden’s economic policies and Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, arguing that they have made housing less attainable for many Americans.
Political and Public Reaction
The proposal for ultra-long-term mortgages has sparked mixed reactions. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the idea on X (formerly Twitter), warning, “In debt forever, in debt for life!” Meanwhile, conservative commentator Mike Cernovich referred to the proposal as “Lifetime mortgages.”
Despite the backlash, some housing officials see potential benefits. Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), called the 50-year mortgage a “complete game-changer”, following a weekend post by Trump featuring the phrase “50-Year Mortgage.”
Pulte added that the FHFA is exploring new ways to provide mortgage relief across 5-, 10-, and 15-year loans, while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are assessing options to introduce assumable and portable mortgages “in a safe and sound manner.”
Expert Concerns
Economists have warned that extending mortgage terms to 50 years could result in homeowners paying substantially more in interest while taking longer to build equity. Critics argue that the plan may ease monthly payments but does little to solve underlying issues of housing supply and affordability.
