Donald Trump promised to “Make America Great Again,” but his tariffs may send the country straight into a recession. His latest move is a twist on the “wall” he vowed to build — not along the Mexican border, but across the entire United States in the form of tariffs on imports. With rates ranging from 10% to more than 40%, these tariffs are set to raise prices for everyday Americans and hurt the economy.
Trump calls this “liberation,” but the reality is far less rosy. Instead of delivering relief, these tariffs are likely to drive up prices and create more uncertainty, making an already slowing economy even worse. For consumers, this means higher prices on goods and services — something the US simply can’t afford.
Across the country, reactions to Trump’s tariff plan have been mixed. But many are questioning whether the president truly understands the everyday impact of these policies. Outside Macy’s in New York, Tom, a shopper, said Trump misled voters when he promised to make things cheaper. “Tariffs will affect people across the country,” he said. “I believe we were lied to.” As prices rise, even those who supported Trump in red states will start to feel the sting. When people can’t afford the basics, they’ll begin to ask tough questions.
Others, like Amanda Saunders, 29, from Indiana, aren’t overly concerned, but for most Americans, that’s a luxury. The reality is, wages aren’t keeping up with rising costs, and many are already struggling to make ends meet.
Trump’s tariffs are setting the stage for a global trade war. As these tariffs hit, consumers will directly feel the consequences on store shelves. And it’s not just shoppers who will suffer. Businesses, too, will hesitate to invest in an unstable economy. The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs is crippling, and businesses can’t thrive in an environment where the rules keep changing.
Polls already show that Americans are angry about rising prices, and Trump’s tariffs will only intensify that frustration. In New York, 15-year-old Sarah Razack predicted that even Trump’s supporters in southern states will soon feel the bite of higher prices. “Everyone is already angry about prices,” she said. Trump is so focused on negotiating with foreign trade partners that he’s overlooking his promise to make life more affordable for American families.
What’s even worse is that Trump doesn’t seem willing to back down. Despite early signs that a dip in the stock market might make him reconsider, his administration has shown no sign of wavering from this aggressive tariff strategy. Trump thrives on using tariffs as leverage, pushing countries into deals, and calling it a win when he gets his way. But this strategy is dangerous. If it backfires and sparks a recession or causes further market turmoil, the consequences will be dire for the American people.
Trump claims these tariffs will generate billions in revenue to fund his tax cuts. His trade advisor, Peter Navarro, suggested that the tariffs could raise as much as $600 billion a year. But this plan is unlikely to work as expected if Trump continues to cut deals with other countries. If he caves in to countries demanding lower tariffs, he will undermine his own goal of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US.
What we’re left with is a volatile and unpredictable future. Experts are struggling to predict the impact, and this uncertainty is exactly what businesses and consumers fear most. Consumer confidence is already slipping, and businesses are hesitant to invest in such an unstable environment. The longer these tariffs drag on, the more uncertainty builds.
The end result could very well be a “Trumpcession” — an economic downturn that will hurt ordinary Americans the hardest, especially those already grappling with rising costs. While Trump celebrates his “great deals,” the rest of the country is left wondering if the true outcome will be a recession, not the golden age he promised.
