Donald Trump claims plummeting activity at  US ports — which is set to lead to empty shelves — is a “good thing,” as his trillion-dollar extra tax disrupts supply chains and a “serious Trump recession” looms. While working families brace for supply shortages and higher costs, Trump continues to dodge responsibility for the “full-blown crisis” he created.

NEW: Donald Trump says that plummeting port activity is a “good thing,” downplaying recession warnings. 

Axios: “President Trump called the slowdown at U.S. ports in the wake of his tariffs on China going into effect a ‘good thing.’

“West Coast ports warn of plunging cargo volume, with likely far-reaching economic effects in the weeks and months ahead. …

“Trump falsely suggested that the dock slowdown is a positive sign for the U.S. economy. …

“Trump’s tariffs have led to slowdowns at vital U.S. shipping hubs.

“The tariff shock is likely to ripple through the economy, eventually hitting domestic transportation and warehousing, employment, as well as the price and availability of goods on shelves …”

REMINDER:  Trump’s chaotic and reckless agenda is steering the country toward recession — and Americans are worried about his dangerous agenda to jack up costs.

NPR: “The U.S. economy shrinks as Trump’s tariffs spark recession fears”

CNBC: “Wednesday’s first-quarter GDP report added to fears the U.S. is already in a recession”

Wall Street Journal: “U.S. Faces Recession This Year, IIF Says”

Yahoo/YouGov poll: 73% of Americans said they were concerned about affording groceries. 

Fox Business: “With the economic tumult, a serious concern has emerged: stagflation”

A majority of Americans believe the economy is on the wrong track under Trump — including a growing share of Republicans. 

Bloomberg: “US consumer sentiment fell to one of the lowest readings on record and long-term inflation expectations climbed to the highest since 1991 on fears of the economic fallout from tariffs. …

“About two-thirds of respondents see their inflation-adjusted incomes falling in the year ahead. Nearly as many expect unemployment to rise.”

Conference Board: “Notably, the share of consumers expecting fewer jobs in the next six months (32.1%) was nearly as high as in April 2009, in the middle of the Great Recession. In addition, expectations about future income prospects turned clearly negative for the first time in five years, suggesting that concerns about the economy have now spread to consumers worrying about their own personal situations.”

Joe Weisenthal, Bloomberg: “March saw a big drop in how *Republicans* feel about the state of the US economy” 

NBC News/SurveyMonkey: 60% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, 60% disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation and cost of living.