" Outside of what he did to me , I call back he ’s doing a moderately good job . "
The daily news cycle is so tumultuous that you may or may not have forgotten the US is still in the middle of PresidentDonald Trump’sglobal trade war.
The modish update : The US and China concur to back down ( slightly ) for 90 days . This means the US ’s tariffs on China descend from 145 % to 30 % and China ’s tariffs on the US fell from 125 % to 10 % , Reutersreports .
Despite any drops,Americans are still feeling the weight of the increased prices tariffs inevitably bring— especially small business owners who import goods and services from other countries.
And it’s not just left-leaning small business owners experiencing a tariff-sized strain in their pockets. Conservatives are equally affected, and it’s leading some of them to declare whether or not the tariffs —which Trump campaigned on announcing— have made them regret their vote.
Here’s what MAGA small business owners are saying:
1.This clothing brand founder said: “I voted for you in 2016, 2020, and 2024 because I believe in your vision for the country — and still do. However, the recent tariff changes are happening too quickly… Increasing tariffs on China from 25% to 145% will be the death of thousands of eCommerce companies just like [mine].”
2.During an interview with theChicago Tribune, the owner of paper straw company Boss Straw commented onTrump’s executive order bolstering plastic straws, saying, “He’s put me from a profitable picture to a non-profitable company… Outside of what he did to me, I think he’s doing a pretty good job.”
3.This Trump voter said, “Yet AGAIN, another client ( 3 today ) has backed out of working with us, due to the relentless chest-beating of our ‘he’s playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers’ President and his trade war. I’m honestly starting to feel like I voted against my own interests. I voted for Trump three times thinking he’d be good for business, but it’s beginning to feel like I voted for someone who’s running our business, and thousands of others, straight into the ground.”
4.This small business owner said, “We can not survive the tariff"s.. I voted for Trump so don’t come on here calling me a liberal.”
5.This real estate development firm owner titled their post “Conservative concerned about tariffs,” writing: “The deals we have in place will experience price increases that could bankrupt our business… Trump is basing the reason for his tariffs on trade deficit alone. Does anyone else disagree with this approach?”
6.This person said they were “pro tariffs,” until “about 30 of our clients…cancelled searches over the past three weeks.”
7.Previously a federal judgeblockedthe Trump administration from freezing federal assistance, which prompted this conservative to say: “I’m torn on this. My wife’s business is nonprofit and they work through Medicaid. Their business… won’t survive 90 days of federal spending freeze… This has the potential to hurt a lot of people who have nothing to do with the DEI agenda.” (A commenter replied, “That’s just the free market for ya,” which the husband did NOT appreciate.)
8.In November 2024, this boss praised the idea of Trump implementing tariffs. Then, in March 2025, they said, “Still Team Trump. Also have urgent meetings tomorrow on how to update our pricing strategy… We cannot absorb 10-25% tariffs, the margins are too thin. So guess what’s going to happen??”
9.Responding to one of Trump’s posts on X, this supporter wrote, “I love you Sir. But the Tariff on Canada is going to put our family out of business.”
10.This person said they stopped talking to their Trump-voting family after the election, but now two have vented to them. “One is a farmer and will not grow corps this year. He no longer has access to undocumented folks, willing to work for 12 hours per day.”
11.And finally, this Trump voter issued a prayer for other small business owners while saying all they can do now is “trust I am making the right decisions.”
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