President Donald Trump has marked 100 days in office in his second term. Although the White House celebrates this as a triumph, Americans worry otherwise. A sharp decline in consumer confidence, increased anxiety over tariffs, and prognostications about a possible recession are top of mind. Major corporations such as Amazon are also at odds with the administration.
With inflation, tariffs, and political instability piling up, Trump’s economic agenda now receives increasing public blowback. Beyond his optimistic outlook, cracks are beginning to form throughout the economy — and Americans are taking notice.
Consumer Confidence Hits COVID-Era Lows
American shoppers are losing confidence. In April, the Conference Board said its consumer confidence gauge fell 7.9 points to 86. That is the lowest point since May 2020 — when the COVID-19 pandemic raged.
This is the Trump economy. He was given a robust economy that was taking off and was the world’s envy. In less than 100 days, he has eroded our trust and stability the world has known us for. We are likely headed for a free fall.#DemsUnited #DemVoice1
pic.twitter.com/fMuuj639qz— Rod (Izzy) Ⓜ️Ⓜ️ 🇺🇸🦅 (@1zzyzyx1) April 28, 2025
Economists attribute the decline to Trump’s tariff-driven policies. Carl Weinberg of High Frequency Economics cautioned that if consumers remain shook, they’ll halt spending — which slows growth.
Recession Fears Grow Among the Public
There are ominous signs, according to a new AP-NORC poll. Forty-nine percent of U.S. adults think Trump’s economic policies may cause a recession in the near future. Worse still, a gauge of short-term expectations for employment and income fell 12.5 points to 54.4 — the lowest in more than 13 years. Below 80 is typically the sign of an impending recession.
Anxiety travels more quickly than policy. And it indicates — just 4 in 10 Americans think Trump can manage the economy well.
Public Split Over Tariffs — Opposition Increase
Support for Trump’s broad tariffs is waning. More and more Americans, now 52%, are against tariffs on all imports. In January, it was 46%. Younger adults under 30 now make up a significant portion of opposition. Many hadn’t taken a side beforehand but now indicate they’re feeling the squeeze.
Folks dread price increases. They anticipate commodity prices increasing, from food to gadgets. Inflation worry fuels the fire.
Amazon Pushes Back: White House Showdown
The business community is not quieting down. Amazon pushed back against Trump’s tariff plans this week. The White House accused Amazon of intending to display tariff effects on product pages directly. The company refuted the accusation.
Instead, Amazon made it clear that its bargain-basement Haul unit had considered posting import charges. But it nixed it. Nonetheless, bewilderment created a 2% dip in Amazon’s shares after Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt designated the rumored scheme “a political and hostile act.”
Political Messaging vs. Economic Reality
Trump stays centered on political appearances. But economic metrics paint a different picture. His government still insists on economic strength. But declining confidence, growing recession fears, and business resistance indicate a gap between story and people’s everyday reality.
This increased disconnection might create a different political environment. Trump can receive standing ovations from his followers, but if economic discomfort intensifies, support might shift.
