Iowa now ranks last in the country for economic growth

Today, Donald Trump travelled to Iowa to try to sell his failed economic policies, which have been a complete disaster for Iowa — unemployment is rising, hundreds of jobs are gone, and Iowa now ranks last in the country for economic growth as the state’s signature agriculture industry crumbles under Trump’s tariffs. 

Iowa families are also struggling under Trump. Hardworking Iowans are paying $750 more for the basics, including an additional $310 for groceries. Over 100,000 Iowans are set to lose their health care, while tens of thousands more are seeing their premiums double and triple. Trump’s Big Ugly Bill also puts two rural hospitals on the brink of closure.

Donald Trump also bragged about John Deere expanding its factories in the U.S. and Mexico, yet hundreds of John Deere workers have been laid off in Iowa over the last year.

John Deere’s 2025 layoffs in Iowa included:

• 101 workers laid off in Waterloo (IA-02)
• 41 workers laid off from Des Moines works (IA-03)
• 71 workers laid off in Waterloo (IA-02)
• 141 workers laid off in Ankeny (IA-03) and Waterloo (IA-02)

A reminder: Iowans are furious about rising costs and are already voting for change. In the six special elections held in Iowa last year, Democrats won five of them while flipping three Republican-held seats. The average overperformance for Iowa Democrats was 22% in 2025 alone. 

In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement: 

“Iowa families are seeing their paychecks shrink, health care get more expensive, and jobs disappear — all thanks to Donald Trump and his disastrous economic policies. While Donald Trump spends his time building gilded ballrooms, attending black tie movie premieres with billionaires, and lying about economic development in Iowa, Democrats are fighting to lower Iowans’ costs, restore the agricultural economy for our farmers and families, and keep health care prices in check.”

Donald Trump’s policies have been a complete disaster for Iowa

Iowa has felt the brunt of Donald Trump’s disastrous policies.

• Iowa’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points since Donald Trump took office. 
• Iowa ranks dead last in economic growth over the past 12 months.
• Moody’s Analytics’ Mark Zandi believes Iowa is in or at risk of a recession.

Trump’s policies have raised Iowa families’ costs by thousands of dollars.

• The median Iowa family will lose $760 per year due to Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and chaotic tariffs. 
• Meanwhile, the average Iowa family has paid $1,303 more this year compared to last due to Trump’s inflation.
• Trump’s Big Ugly Bill also cuts SNAP benefits for 134,000 Iowa families who rely on the program to afford groceries, which continue to cost more due to Trump’s tariffs. 

Trump’s agenda is causing health care costs to skyrocket in Iowa.

• 110,000 Iowans will lose their health care because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill.
• Because Trump also refuses to extend enhanced ACA tax credits, premiums are doubling on average for over 117,000 Iowans this year.
• The Big Ugly Bill also puts two rural hospitals on the brink of closure.

Iowa’s agricultural industry, the backbone of the state’s economy, is in crisis due to Trump’s reckless trade policies.

• Iowa’s farm income is projected to fall 24%, or $3 billion, in 2026. 
• In the first six months of 2025, 18 Iowa farms have filed for bankruptcy — the most since 2020 and the second-most in the country during that period. 

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