Trump’s Tariffs and Medicaid Cuts Spark Voter Fury/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTOn/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump’s key 2024 campaign promise to lower costs on “Day One” has faltered, as prices surge across the U.S. and millions face Medicaid cuts. Everyday Americans and bipartisan leaders voice frustration over rising costs, from groceries to health care, and what they call misguided tariffs and tax breaks. With the 2026 midterms looming, the so-called “big, beautiful bill” may become a central issue.
Cost Crisis Quick Looks
- Trump’s promise to lower costs on “Day One” has failed, critics say.
- Prices on groceries, energy, and household items continue to surge.
- Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” cuts Medicaid coverage for 10 million Americans.
- Marked inflation from tariffs affecting small businesses and families nationwide.
- “Fear and disgust” follow cuts to vital safety nets, cancer patient’s mother says.
- Sen. Thom Tillis warns of 663,000 North Carolinians losing Medicaid.
- Democrats like Roy Cooper and Elissa Slotkin criticize GOP cost policies.
- Public anger rises as voters say they’re “paying more, getting less.”
- Small business owner pays $600 more monthly due to tariffs on coffee.
- More Americans rely on Buy Now, Pay Later just to buy groceries.
Deep Look
Broken Promises: Trump’s Economic Plan Backfires
When President Donald Trump vowed to cut inflation and lower the cost of living “on Day One,” it struck a chord with voters. But six months into his second term, prices are still climbing, public frustration is boiling over, and key campaign promises remain unfulfilled.
“Lower costs were the whole point,” said bipartisan Cost Coalition leaders Terry Holt and Andrew Bates. “Voters are never quicker to fire elected officials than when they break a core promise.”
Everyday Americans Share the Impact
For Allison Harris, whose daughter is battling cancer, the consequences of Trump’s policies are personal and devastating. After Michigan’s Medicaid program helped cover overwhelming medical bills, she said she felt “fear and disgust” when Trump signed his cost-cutting measure — the so-called “big, beautiful bill.”
“You never know until something like this cancer journey happens, exactly how much stuff costs,” Harris said. Her daughter, Kendall Williams, didn’t mince words: “It just shows how some adults don’t have common sense.”
Tariffs Trigger More Economic Strain
The administration’s aggressive tariff strategy — once praised by Trump as a cure-all for economic woes — is now fueling inflation, experts say. Grocery prices, especially ground beef, are hitting record highs.
Retailers like Amazon and Walmart have raised prices, and Procter & Gamble announced that tariffs are driving up costs on household staples like Tide detergent and Luv’s diapers.
Ohioan Charlene Monoskie summed it up: “It’s hard enough to buy the things my family needs. Raising that cost is going to make it harder.“
Main Street Feels the Pinch
Jamie Pikulsky, a former teacher who now owns the From Scratch Uniontown café in Pennsylvania, says tariffs have hit her business hard. She’s paying $600 more per month for coffee, a burden she says small shops like hers can’t afford.
“I don’t know of any small business right now that is thriving,” Pikulsky said. “It’s tough across the board.”
Congress Pushback: Republicans and Democrats Speak Out
Some in Congress are distancing themselves from Trump’s economic strategy. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) spoke out forcefully against the Medicaid cuts in the Senate chamber:
“What do I tell 663,000 people in two or three years when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid?”
Democrats are ramping up the pressure. Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, now running for Senate, warned:
“Politicians in D.C. are running up our debt, ripping away our healthcare, disrespecting our veterans… just to give tax breaks to billionaires.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) emphasized what she sees as a disconnect between Washington elites and real Americans:
“The cost of living in the economy is the driving issue for the average person. It’s just not always driving the conversation among political elites.”
Public Backlash Builds Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Trump’s sweeping policies, including massive tax cuts for the wealthy and punitive tariffs on imports, were sold as tools to rein in inflation and support working-class Americans. But instead, critics say, they’ve destabilized the social safety net and triggered new financial stress for millions.
Now, with Medicaid cuts in full swing and grocery bills skyrocketing, voters say they’re “paying more and getting less.” As the 2026 midterms near, Democrats and moderate Republicans alike are betting that economic discontent will drive turnout.
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