While Donald Trump and his billionaire Cabinet pretend the economy isn’t on the verge of a “serious Trump recession”, Americans’ 401(k)s are plummeting, unemployment is rising, and consumer sentiment is tumbling. As Trump claims “no” responsibility and refuses to “even [look] at the market,” his cronies are desperately covering for him, saying they are “not at all” worried. 

Facts are facts: Trump’s reckless policies are risking the entire economy, and the American people know it – even if he won’t take responsibility.

• Trump and his administration refuse to take responsibility for their failing economy — all while admitting working families face “economic pain” under his disastrous agenda:
  • Trump: “I’m not even looking at the market.” 
  • Trump in response to a question on if the market crash made him consider a change in policy: “No.” 
  • Trump in response to a question on if he “bear[s] any responsibility for their turmoil” in the economy: “No.”
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in response to a question on if he is “worr[ied]” about the disastrous state of the economy: “Not at all.” 
  • Bessent in response to a question on if he is “concerned about hardworking Americans’ 401(k) plans:” “I’m not concerned.” 
  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: “You think economic data coming out in early March is Donald Trump-related data? You gotta- come on, you gotta be kidding me, stop it, stop it, stop it.” 
  • Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in response to a question on if there will be a recession: “I’m here to echo the remarks of this president and of this White House, we are in a period of economic transition.”

• Recent polling shows that the majority of Americans blame Trump for rising prices and reject his failed approach to handling the economy, putting him “underwater on the nation’s top issue”: 
  • 56% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy — “worse than at any point during his first term in office”
  • On inflation and prices, Trump’s net approval is negative (38%-52%)
  • Twice as many Americans say the economy is getting worse than getting better 
  • 62% of Americans said prices have gone up in the past few weeks
  • Two out of three Americans do not expect to see positive economic growth in the coming year

• Meanwhile, economists – and Republicans – are warning that Trump’s expensive agenda will cost Americans’ pocketbooks: 
  • Nearly 60% of Americans expect Trump’s $100 billion national tax to lead to higher prices
  • Economic policy uncertainty hit the “highest level since the pandemic” 
  • Economists are warning that a “serious Trump recession” has become a “real possibility”
  • U.S. employers cut more jobs last month “than any February since 2009”
  • GOP Sen. Thom Tillis warned that Trump’s agenda could be “inflationary”
  • GOP Rep. Adrian Smith also suggested that Trump’s agenda could raise consumer costs