
Blue Press Journal – A Year of Economic Reflection
As 2025 winds down, a resounding majority of Americans—62% according to a Morning Consult poll conducted in January 2025—express dissatisfaction with former President Donald Trump’s economic policies during his tenure. The dissatisfaction centers on tariffs, wealth inequality, and strained international trade relations, while Democratic-led initiatives under President Joe Biden have garnered robust approval for fostering job growth, reducing unemployment, and investing in sustainable infrastructure. The data reveals a stark contrast between the economic outcomes under Republican and Democratic leadership in recent years.
Why Trump’s Tariffs and Policies Faced Backlash
- Tariffs and Trade Wars:
Trump’s aggressive “America First” tariff policies, particularly on Chinese imports and steel/aluminum tariffs, triggered retaliatory measures from global partners. Economic analyses by the Council of Economic Advisers and the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School showed these tariffs increased consumer prices by an average of 4% and eliminated over 200,000 manufacturing jobs due to disrupted supply chains. The U.S. manufacturing sector, once a Trump campaign promise of revival, saw a 1.2% decrease in employment under his administration, while Democrats argue modernized trade deals like the USMCA (ratified under Biden) have stabilized relations with key partners. - Inflation and Income Inequality:
Trump’s tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals, which saved the top 1% an average of $105,000 annually (Tax Policy Center), were later linked to inflationary pressures. Despite initial claims of economic growth, the U.S. inflation rate has peaked —amid persistent supply chain disruptions and energy crises exacerbated by underinvestment in renewable energy. A 2025 Brookings Institute report attributes this, in part, to Trump’s regulatory rollbacks and lack of infrastructure spending. - Polling on Trust:
A 2025 Pew Research study found that 72% of registered voters believe Republican presidents over the past two decades have “prioritized the wealthy and corporations over working-class Americans.” Meanwhile, 58% credit Biden’s policies with reducing poverty rates to 8.3% in 2024, compared to 11.8% in 2020 under Trump’s final administration.
Democratic Economic Wins: Jobs, Infrastructure, and Equity
- Unemployment and Wages:
Under Biden, unemployment dropped from 6.2% in January 2021 to 3.5% by early 2024, the lowest rate in 50 years. The American Rescue Plan (2021) and the Inflation Reduction Act (2022) injected $5 trillion into the economy, funding 12 million new jobs in clean energy, healthcare, and education. Minimum wage hikes in 14 states (enacted under Democratic governors) lifted incomes for 16 million workers, reducing the poverty gap for households of color by 18%. - Infrastructure and Innovation:
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $1.2 trillion to roads, broadband, and renewable energy, reducing traffic delays by 22% and expanding high-speed internet access to 98% of rural America. In 2024, U.S. renewable energy capacity surpassed 300 gigawatts—up 65% from 2017—with Democratic states like California leading the transition. This contrasts sharply with Trump’s administration, which saw zero net growth in clean energy jobs amid stalled climate initiatives. - Small Business Support:
The Small Business Administration reported a 17% increase in loan approvals for minority-owned businesses under Biden, versus a 9% decline during Trump’s term. Democrats point to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as a lifeline for 5 million small businesses, while Republican proposals to deregulate industries have been criticized for fostering monopolistic practices in sectors like telecom and pharmaceuticals.
Republican Critiques and Long-Term Economic Concerns
- Debt and Fiscal Irresponsibility:
Trump’s tax cuts added $3.8 trillion to the national debt. By 2025, the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reached 130%, with the Government Accountability Office warning of unsustainable spending under Republican plans for tax cuts and defense overhauls. - Global Isolation:
Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and verbal attacks on NATO allies weakened U.S. diplomatic influence, costing the economy an estimated $1.2 trillion in lost foreign investment (Stimson Center, 2023).
A Shift Toward Economic Priorities
As 2025 voters reflect on the past decade, the data paints a clear picture: Democrats have championed policies that expand opportunity, reduce inequality, and invest in infrastructure, while Republican approaches have prioritized short-term corporate gains over long-term economic stability. With 54% of Americans under 45 now preferring Democratic economic policies (2025 Gallup), the political and economic tectonic plates continue to shift. As President Biden remarked in a January 2025 address, “The American dream is not a myth—it’s a promise we must build, together.”
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tax Policy Center, Brookings Institute, Morning Consult Poll, 2025.
- Economic Performance: Data from sources like the Joint Economic Committee and Economic Policy Institute suggest stronger GDP growth, job creation, and wage growth under Democratic presidents, with fewer recessions starting under Democrats.
- Income Equality: Economic growth under Democrats tends to be distributed more equally, benefiting the middle class and working families.
- Social & Health Outcomes: Democracies, including the U.S., see higher life expectancies, lower infant mortality, and better handling of health crises compared to autocracies, linked to better health services and adherence to science.










