100 Days of Failure. How Republicans Let Trump Destroy Your Future, Your Finances, and Your Rights

Donald Trump promised an economic “boom.” Instead, 100 days into his second term, America faces a shrinking economy, rising prices, and jobs shipped overseas – all enabled by Republicans in Congress who let him run wild. The U.S. economy actually contracted in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP down 0.3%. Rather than address this downturn, Trump and his GOP enablers are busy blaming others. He even pins the slump on an imaginary “Biden overhang,” bragging that his tariffs just need time to work and “our Country will boom”. Meanwhile, working families feel the pain as they feel the pinch.

From ‘Made in USA’ to ‘Made in China’: Trump’s Broken Job Promises

Nothing proves Trump’s betrayal of American workers better than a Pennsylvania wheelbarrow factory he once celebrated. On Day 100 of his first term in 2017, Trump staged a photo-op at the Ames True Temper plant in Harrisburg to brag about “Made in USA” manufacturing. Eight years later, that factory is closed, over 250 workers lost their jobs, and those wheelbarrows once proudly American-made are now stamped “Made in China”. Trump’s chaotic trade war didn’t save this plant – it hastened its demise. Republicans who applauded his tough talk now turn a blind eye. The company Trump touted moved production to China, and the GOP says nothing.

Trump and his allies rant about bringing jobs back, but their policies drive jobs away. Manufacturers facing Trump’s steep tariffs are slashing investment or shifting operations abroad. Republicans won’t admit failure – they hail his trade-war “toughness” even as factory towns see empty warehouses. The only winners are foreign competitors and multinational corporations, while American workers are left in the dust.

Tariffs, Inflation, and a Shrinking Economy

Trump’s reckless tariff spree is at the heart of our economic pain. Within weeks, he slapped tariffs on nearly everything – a 10% tax on most imports and a jaw-dropping 145% tariff on Chinese goods. These tariffs are hitting Americans hard – companies are passing on the costs in higher prices, and core inflation has already surged to 3.5%.

Consumer confidence has plummeted to its lowest level since 1990. With prices rising faster than paychecks, families are delaying purchases and the slowdown deepens. Trump’s tariffs were supposed to boost U.S. industry, but instead they’ve sown chaos. Companies rushed to import goods before the tariffs hit, causing a brief glut followed by a crash – a whiplash that helped tip GDP into decline​. So much for “America First” – Trump’s policies have put America last in growth.

And where are Republicans in Congress? Instead of confronting this self-inflicted damage, they cheer or stay silent. GOP leaders praise Trump’s hardline moves or look the other way, even as experts warn the tariffs will drag growth “back into the red”. Rather than help struggling families, Republican lawmakers hold sham hearings and parrot Trump’s excuses. By abdicating their duty, they’ve become accomplices to economic disaster.

No Moral Compass: Human Rights Sacrificed for Trade Wars

Trump’s trade and foreign policy doesn’t just hurt wallets – it offends American values. He has shown a brazen indifference to human rights in pursuit of his “deals.” His tariff regime and business favoritism ignore exploitation in global supply chains. Those wheelbarrows now made in China may well come from factories that trample workers’ rights in a country notorious for forced labor – yet Trump’s only concern is the price tag. His trade war makes no demand for better labor standards; he hasn’t uttered a word about China’s mass internment camps. By waging a trade war with no moral compass, Trump gives cover to regimes that abuse human rights.

Trump’s “America First” foreign policy cozies up to authoritarians. He even stood with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, showing that arms deals mattered more to him than human life. He has embraced brutal strongmen and turned a blind eye to their crimes to get photo-ops or trade favors. Republicans in Congress have largely shrugged, ignoring the moral cost in their loyalty to Trump. The result is a foreign policy that sells out American principles and a trade policy that treats workers as pawns.

The Destructive Arc of Trump’s Economic Policies (First 100 Days)

How We Fight Back: Five Actions for Change

Trump and his Republican enablers are plunging us toward economic ruin and moral disgrace, but we are not powerless. Americans who care about our country must act now. Here are five concrete actions to resist Trump’s agenda and demand a better path:

1. Vote, Every Time: Vote in every election – and help register others. Vote out the Republicans who rubber-stamp Trump’s agenda and replace them with leaders who put working families first.
2. Boycott Corporate Betrayers: Don’t buy from companies that offshore jobs while profiting from Trump’s policies. And boycott companies like Tesla, whose profits fund Trump’s allies like Elon Musk (locate a local protest here.) If they betray American workers, they don’t get our dollars. Spread the word about stories like the wheelbarrow factory to expose Trump’s “America First” lies.
3. Contact Your Representatives: Call or write your members of Congress – especially Republicans – and demand they oppose Trump’s harmful tariffs and schemes. Remind them they work for the people, and that voters are watching.
4. Protest and Organize: Join peaceful protests and rallies against Trump’s economic policies, and stand with workers hurt by them. Show up at town halls, support union drives for fair wages, and make your voice heard. Public pressure works.
5. Support Pro-Democracy Causes: Donate or volunteer for organizations that fight for democracy, labor rights, and human rights. Collective action is how we reclaim power.

The damage from 100 days is bad enough – imagine four more years. Yet if we stay informed, speak out, and take action, we can still stop this reckless agenda. Republicans may let Donald Trump burn down our economy and values, but together we the people can and must douse the flames – before it’s too late.