U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates set at 10 percent, starting from January 20, 2026. The proposal was shared publicly but was not accompanied by details on how it would be implemented or enforced, leaving uncertainty around its feasibility.
Trump stated that American consumers have been overcharged for years and argued that limiting interest rates would offer immediate relief. He reiterated a promise first made during his election campaign, though analysts at the time questioned whether such a measure could be enacted without congressional approval.
High credit card interest rates have drawn criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Members of both major parties have expressed concerns, and some bipartisan legislative efforts have already been introduced in Congress. However, none of these proposals have yet become law, and Trump did not explicitly endorse any specific bill in his latest statement.
Opposition figures quickly pushed back, arguing that the announcement lacks substance without formal legislation. Critics also highlighted contradictions between the president’s call to cap rates and previous actions taken against consumer protection measures related to credit cards.
Major banks and credit card issuers have not commented on the proposal. Meanwhile, banking and financial industry groups warned that a strict cap could limit access to credit, particularly for higher-risk consumers, and could push borrowers toward less regulated and more expensive alternatives.
Economists echoed these concerns, noting that credit cards are unsecured loans and that interest rates are used to price risk. According to analysts, restricting rates could lead lenders to reduce credit limits or cut off access entirely for some consumers. This shift could indirectly benefit alternative lending services such as buy-now-pay-later providers or payday lenders.
Despite the criticism, several lawmakers have already introduced bipartisan bills aiming to cap credit card interest rates at similar levels, signaling ongoing political momentum around the issue. Whether Trump’s call will translate into concrete policy action remains uncertain and will likely depend on congressional support in the months ahead.
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