A global trade-war rollercoaster was not enough to distract Donald Trump from fulfilling one of his longstanding priorities on Wednesday: changing the federal definition of “shower head.” This significant move, described by the White House as an effort to “end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure,” underscores Trump's ongoing commitment to altering federal regulations that he claims hinder consumer experience.
For years, Trump has voiced his dissatisfaction with what he perceives as inadequate water pressure in American showers, sinks, and toilets. He has consistently blamed federal water-conservation standards for this issue. “In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump stated as he signed the executive order, which the White House indicated would extend to multiple household appliances, including toilets and sinks. He expressed his frustration: “I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.”
The White House released a statement regarding the executive order, emphasizing that “by restoring shower freedom, President Trump is following through on his commitment to dismantle unnecessary regulations and put Americans first.” This declaration aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of rolling back regulations that he believes restrict consumer choices and preferences.
Some appliance experts have found Trump's persistent focus on American water pressure to be noteworthy. Andrew deLaski, executive director at the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, remarked to the Guardian in January, “It was very striking that the White House memo included toilets and shower heads as a presidential priority. It really was something.” However, he also noted that Trump’s concerns might be somewhat outdated.
Trump's remarks on Wednesday echoed sentiments he has expressed in the past. He previously claimed in 2019 that “people are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once” due to insufficient water pressure. In 2023, he reiterated these concerns, stating, “When you go into these new homes with showers, the water drips down slowly, slowly.”
During his first term, Trump made headlines by rolling back stricter energy-efficiency standards for lightbulbs and other household appliances. At that time, Xavier Becerra, the then-attorney general of California, criticized the moves as “another dim-witted move that will waste energy at the expense of our people and planet.”
Furthermore, the initial Trump administration created loopholes for less efficient appliances, including dishwashers and showers, changes that the Biden administration later reversed. The White House stated on Wednesday, “Biden undid this progress and the shower wars continued,” claiming that Trump’s new executive order would “make America’s showers great again.”
As this policy unfolds, the implications for both consumers and manufacturers in the appliance industry remain to be seen, but the debate over water efficiency versus consumer choice is sure to continue.
Oliver Milman contributed reporting.
