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Fox & Friends Co-Host Says She Asked 'Santa' — He Reported a 'High Sense of Optimism' About Affordability

Emily Compagno told viewers she asked 'Santa' at a tree-lighting and was told Americans feel unusually optimistic about affordability this year. The discussion cited a Wells Fargo estimate putting a Thanksgiving meal for 10 at about $80 and referenced year-over-year price drops highlighted by President Trump. Co-hosts noted declines in turkey, potatoes, ham, frozen vegetables and rolls, while also noting that overall consumer confidence remains near a 40-year low. Compagno stressed that how people feel at the dinner table matters as much as the statistics.

12:40 AM, 11/27/2025Politics

Fox & Friends co-host Emily Compagno told viewers she spoke with 'an important correspondent' at a holiday tree-lighting — Santa Claus — who, she said, reported a renewed sense of optimism among Americans about affordability this year. Her comment came during a segment on the rising and falling costs of Thanksgiving groceries, where hosts highlighted a Wells Fargo estimate that a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 10 now costs roughly $80.

The conversation mixed data and anecdote. Co-host Brian Kilmeade cautioned that broader consumer confidence remains near a 40-year low, tracing back to 1987, while President Trump pointed to year-over-year price drops, including a claim that Walmart's standard Thanksgiving meal was down 25% from a year ago. The hosts also cited declines in several food items — turkey, potatoes, ham, frozen vegetables and dinner rolls — as signs that holiday dining is more affordable than it has been in recent periods.

What was said on air

Brian Kilmeade: "The most important thing is that you feel it's affordable, because consumer confidence is at a 40-year low, dating back to 1987."

Emily Compagno: "No amount of statistics matter unless you actually feel it at the table and you have your optimism. I spoke with a very important correspondent at our Christmas tree lighting, Santa. He told me that this year he feels people have a high sense of optimism he hasn't seen for a long time."

Compagno's anecdote drew attention for its unusual tone in a discussion about economic indicators: she emphasized perception at the dinner table over raw statistics. The segment combined Wells Fargo's grocery estimate, the hosts' interpretations, and remarks from President Trump about price declines — notably a reported 33% fall in turkey from recent highs, 13% lower potatoes, and a 15% drop in ham, along with steeper decreases for some packaged items like frozen vegetables and rolls.

Whether these price changes translate into improved public sentiment is an open question. Analysts note that headline grocery-price improvements for specific items may not fully counter broader concerns reflected in long-term consumer confidence measures. Still, the exchange illustrated how television hosts can blend data, political commentary, and lighthearted anecdotes to shape viewers' impressions of economic conditions.

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