A new report concluded that Trump’s tariffs “unlawfully taxed American families, wiped out nearly a million jobs, and were ultimately ruled illegal”
A new report published by a conservative think tank this week found that Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs cost nearly one million jobs in 2025 alone. The manufacturing sector was hit particularly hard by Trump’s trade war, and experts estimate the job market shed approximately 75,000 manufacturing jobs because of Trump’s tariffs.
Yesterday, JD Vance bragged about manufacturing jobs, saying they are “increasing at a large number;” however, according to one official, “the tariffs really ended up being a tax on high-end American manufacturing.”
While the job market tanked, American households shouldered the brunt of the tariff costs: according to the report, 90% of tariff costs fell on American importers rather than foreign producers and the average American family paid approximately $1,000 more in tariff-related costs. Still, Trump has doubled down on his trade war, implementing new tariffs and threatening to institute even more.
In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:
“Even Donald Trump’s conservative allies are saying it: Trump and JD Vance’s reckless trade war sent the economy into a tailspin, wrecked the manufacturing sector, raised costs, and wiped out nearly a million jobs. Under Trump and Vance, working families, farmers, and small business owners have struggled to keep up with high prices as their earnings get swallowed by inflation and jobs disappear. Trump promised to lower prices and bring back jobs, and instead Americans have footed the bill for his disastrous economy while they stretch their budgets to make ends meet.”
While businesses are currently seeking refunds from the Trump administration after the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s tariffs illegal, researchers warn that repayment will not reverse the severe damage Trump’s trade war inflicted.
Meanwhile, under Trump, families have had to pay more than $3,100 in additional costs for goods and services like gas, groceries, and healthcare, and inflation is currently outpacing wage growth. Just last week, Trump declared, “I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation.”
