Fox Business host Charles Payne delivered a sharp critique Monday of President Donald Trump’s proposed 50-year mortgage plan, arguing that while the idea may offer short-term relief for borrowers, it would saddle homeowners with exorbitant long-term costs.
Appearing on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom, Payne was asked by co-host Bill Hemmer whether the extended mortgage terms could meaningfully address the housing affordability crisis—a growing political issue for both parties. The veteran financial analyst dismissed the plan outright.
“I do not like this idea,” Payne said flatly. He explained that while the proposal might make monthly payments appear more affordable, it would dramatically increase the total cost of a home over time.
Using a straightforward example, Payne compared a 30-year mortgage with a 4 percent interest rate to the same loan stretched over 50 years. On the shorter loan, he said, the payment would amount to about $2,300 per month. On the 50-year loan, the monthly cost would drop to roughly $1,900, an appealing figure at first glance. But over the lifetime of the mortgage, the borrower would pay a steep price.
“By the time you finish paying this bad boy off, the 30-year, you pay $359,000, versus a 50 year, [you’d pay] almost $700,000,” Payne said, drawing an audible reaction from co-host Dana Perino.
“It’s just a gargantuan difference just to make people feel better,” he continued. “And that’s not the way to do this.”
The discussion follows comments from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who announced over the weekend that the Trump administration was developing the plan. Pulte called it a “complete game changer” in a post on X, suggesting it could open homeownership to millions priced out of the market.
But the reaction from the right has been mixed. A number of conservative commentators and Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, quickly criticized the proposal as financially unsound and politically risky. Critics argue that instead of tackling the root causes of high housing costs—such as overregulation, inflation, and limited supply—the plan risks inflating home prices even further while trapping families in long-term debt.
Despite his opposition to the mortgage idea, Payne emphasized that he remains bullish on the overall direction of Trump’s economic agenda. “I think we’re on the precipice of an economic boom,” he said, pointing to what he described as a more cooperative Federal Reserve, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” taking effect, and a renewed push for domestic manufacturing as factors that could drive strong growth into 2026.
Even so, Payne urged the administration to focus its fiscal creativity elsewhere. “I’d rather see President Trump do some other things with that tariff money,” he said, hinting that the revenues from tariffs could be better used to directly spur construction or lower costs for first-time buyers rather than extending mortgage timelines.
Payne’s remarks reflect a growing tension within the conservative movement over how best to tackle affordability without repeating the mistakes of the past. While Trump’s economic instincts continue to generate optimism on Wall Street and Main Street alike, even some of his staunchest allies are signaling that not every big idea deserves a green light.
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