Why Americans Voted for Trump (Again)-Big Mistake
By Ben Cable (Citizen Ben on Substack)
Remember the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid”? The line from the 1992 Clinton campaign could have been the motto for the 2024 election, too. When Americans voted Donald Trump back into the White House, it wasn’t because they liked him; it was because they thought he was good for their wallets.
A majority of voters believed Trump would boost the economy, lower inflation, bring back jobs, and “make America rich again.” More than half the country (54%) said they trusted Trump over Biden to handle the economy, according to Gallup.
So… how’s that working out?
What Just Happened: The July Jobs Report and Fallout
- The U.S. added only 73,000 jobs in July, far below expectations, and May and June were revised down by 258,000 jobs total, wiping out earlier gains.
- Unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, long-term joblessness rose to over 1.8 million, the highest since 2017, and hiring stalled dramatically.
- In response, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, accusing her (without evidence) of rigging the numbers just because he didn’t like them.
- Trump politicizes economic data and undermines trust in institutions.
On August 1st on Substack, Pete Buttigieg posted, “Today’s jobs report shows 24,000 factory jobs lost in the past three months. Trump’s first term brought a manufacturing recession. Now his reckless tariffs are making Americans worse off, again.”
Workers Are Disappearing Driving Up Costs
- Many workers simply aren’t showing up: tighter immigration rules and aging demographics have shrunk the labor force.
- That means fewer people showing up to jobs, fewer apartments being built, and rents soaring, especially in major cities.
- Fewer workers also mean businesses can charge more, home builders passing on rising costs, pushing rental and mortgage prices higher.
Tariffs Are Making Everything More Expensive
- Trump’s second term brought sweeping tariffs: 25% on most goods from Canada and Mexico, and later steel and aluminum tariffs doubled to 50% by June. His changing tariff proposals proved instability for markets.
- These tariffs disrupted North American supply chains; imported lumber, steel, food, and electronics all got more expensive, which hit American consumers and housing markets hard.
- Canada responded with its own 25% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, and warned that prices could rise overnight, especially for oil, lumber, dairy, and electricity imports.
- The result? Housing costs in the U.S. are rising due to increased building material costs, while Canada is experiencing a recession marked by job losses, higher consumer prices, and a slowdown in exports.
Here’s What’s Actually Happening as of August 3rd
- The economy shrank earlier this year, and while we saw a small bounce recently, it was mostly due to fewer imports, not actual growth.
- Prices are still high. Inflation isn’t “fixed.” The cost of groceries, housing, and electricity is still hitting families hard.
- Jobs are drying up. Only 73,000 jobs were added last month, a major slowdown. More people are unemployed or dropping out of the workforce altogether.
- Consumer confidence is tanking. People are nervous, spending less, and bracing for a recession.
- Leading experts warn that we’re entering a period of “stagflation” meaning slow growth + high prices + job trouble.
Canada Matters in This Picture Too
- U.S. tariffs on Canada are driving up energy and material costs for American consumers and builders.
- Canada retaliated, hurting U.S. exporters and raising prices for goods American households rely on.
- Canada’s economy is slowing fast, and it could enter recession if tariffs persist, yet Trump insists this is “America-first,” even as Americans pay the price. Trump calls it “protecting American jobs.” But the jobs are disappearing anyway.
In short, the Trump economy is not booming. It’s sputtering.
Why Did We Trust Trump with the Economy in the First Place?
Because he sold himself as a “successful businessman.” He said he knew how to “run America like a business.” That might sound good until you look at his actual record in business.
Here’s what Trump really did:
- Declared bankruptcy six times. That’s not being a genius. That’s failing over and over.
- Refused to pay small business suppliers, contractors, electricians, waitstaff, even painters, who worked for him and were left unpaid while Trump walked away rich.
- Cheated on taxes and cooked the books. His company was convicted of tax fraud. His CFO went to jail. These aren’t minor mistakes; they’re crimes.
- Now, as president, Trump has cut civil service jobs, the IRS, NIH, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, with thousands laid off, often without cause.
- Trump’s response to bad news? Blame, fire, and scapegoats, economists, Fed bosses, immigrants, “the deep state”, the media, Biden appointees, you name it.
And now? He’s doing the same thing to America’s economy.
He loves gold and the trimmings of luxury as Rome burns.
Last week, Trump unveiled plans to build a $200 million ballroom at the White House, a separate 90,000-square-foot gilded space for hosting state dinners and ceremonies. Though privately funded, it’s still taxpayer-tracking level extravagance; after all, the building is publicly owned and maintained, just like the Great Mexican Wall and the “gifted” Boeing Plane, America will have to pay.
The Trump Playbook: Make a Mess, Blame Someone Else
The irony here is thick. The very people who voted for Trump because they thought he’d “fix the economy” are now feeling the pain. Prices are up. Jobs are down. The future is shaky.
And instead of taking responsibility, Trump is pointing fingers, again.
He’s blaming Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He’s blaming immigrants. He’s blaming “Biden’s mess.” But here’s the truth: Trump has had 4 years and six months to steer the ship, and we’re heading toward the rocks.
The Bottom Line
Trump’s second term is proving what many of us already knew:
Trump is not a genius businessman. He loves spending money (just not his own). He’s not good with money (even with your money). He’s not the guy to fix the economy; he’s the guy who breaks it and walks away without taking any responsibility for it.
We bought the myth that Donald Trump was some economic savior. But that myth is crashing into reality: sluggish growth, persistent inflation, and fewer good jobs. If this is what success looks like, we’re in trouble.
Don’t Be Fooled
America gave Donald Trump another shot at the wheel. And he’s proving, again, that he can’t drive.
Next time someone says, “He’s good for the economy,” ask them this:
If he’s so good at business, why did he bankrupt casinos, stiff workers, get convicted for fraud, and now preside over a shrinking economy?
Also, ask: Are you better off today than seven months ago?
Because it’s not just the economy, it’s who you trust to manage it.
And Donald Trump? He’s never been trustworthy.
What You Can Do
We can’t sit this one out. If the facts disturb you, good. That means you’re still paying attention. Now, it’s time to act.
Speak up. Share this article with friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Don’t let disinformation win by silence.
Call your representatives. Demand transparency on economic data. Demand oversight of taxpayer spending. Ask where your money is going.
Protest economic injustice. Join local rallies or town halls. Write letters to editors. Make noise, especially when the press is being silenced or federal agencies are being politicized.
Register, organize, vote. Economic survival is on the ballot. Don’t wait until it’s your job lost, your rent doubled, or your data manipulated. Local elections matter. State elections matter. Federal elections especially matter.
Support real journalism. Subscribe, donate, or amplify trustworthy sources. Misinformation spreads fast; truth needs backup.
This isn’t about party lines. It’s about broken trust, manipulated numbers, and economic harm. America deserves better than a president who treats our tax dollars like casino chips and fires anyone who speaks the truth.
Stay alert. Stay loud. Stay free.
—Citizen Ben
CitizenBen.substack.com
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