One Year of Trump 2.0: Are You Better Off?
Polls Show Americans Sour on Trump’s Economy
On Tuesday, Donald Trump marks his first anniversary back in office. It’s the question Ronald Reagan made famous, and it demands an honest answer: Are you better off than you were a year ago?
Two new polls deliver a verdict most Americans would answer with a resounding “No!”
The casualty list is long: immigrants facing raids by masked federal agents, journalists under attack, universities stripped of funding, federal research gutted, 300,000+ federal workers fired or driven out, transgender Americans losing protections, and institutions from Congress to the courts undermined. Add Medicaid recipients, the Peace Corps, USAID, public broadcasting, and anyone who wants accurate storm warnings or clean air.
And then there’s the group that may matter most politically: people who buy food.
Trump built his 2024 campaign on one promise—cheaper food. His words were unequivocal:
“Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again.” (August 9, 2024)
“Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down.” (August 14, 2024)
“A vote for Trump means your groceries will be cheaper.” (October 1, 2024)
Why anyone believed this is beyond me. But here we are—one year into a very long four-year term. And if you’ve bought coffee or beef lately, you know Trump’s promises were full of beans.
America pays more
The latest inflation report shows food prices rose 0.7 percent in December alone. If that pace continued for a year, food prices would climb a staggering 8.4 percent.
Many Trump voters have buyer’s remorse. The new CNN poll shows 55% of Americans think Trump has made the economy worse. Only 32% think he’s made things better.
The AP/NORC poll found 53% of the country thinks Trump has made the economy somewhat or much worse off, while a mere 30% think he’s made the economy somewhat or much better.
The chaos extends beyond economics. Americans are watching heavily armed federal agents in masks terrorize city streets—breaking car windows, manhandling pedestrians, shooting innocent people. This isn’t governance. It’s authoritarian theater.
Change may be coming
Relief may come sooner than 2028. Thursday brought encouraging news: the respected Cook Political Report shifted 18 US House seats closer to Democrats. Eight races shifted from likely Democratic wins to solid blue. Four races shifted from likely Republican victories into the toss-up category, including the Third Congressional District covering much of central Iowa. Previously, Cook rated the race as leaning to re-election for Republican incumbent Zach Nunn. Thursday, Cook moved the race to a toss-up. It’s a change that will energize Democratic challengers State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst and State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott.
Democrats taking back the House could bring at least a bit of decency back to government.
It has been a long, punishing year. I knew it would be bad, but it’s been far worse than even this cynical, skeptical retired journalist imagined. Keeping up with the news is exhausting. Too many of our neighbors voted to put a thug back in the White House, for reasons I still can’t fathom. The thought of enduring three more years of this is almost unbearable.
So I’ll return to the opening question: Are you better off than you were a year ago?
Click the comment button and tell me how you’re doing.
Dave Busiek on Media is reader-supported. Subscribe for free to get new posts in your inbox, or become a paid subscriber to directly fund the fight for open government.
Proceeds from paid subscription are donated to the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit defending your right to know what your government is doing.
Every paid subscription helps hold power accountable. Subscribe today.
A few recent columns:
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative puts out two roundups per week. Here’s the latest from January 14, filled with interesting columns from around Iowa.
Great column, Dave. As a poll worker, I came home from my assignment that night and knew exactly how the election would turn out. I sat down and cried, thinking "these people have no idea what they've just done." But it's far worse than I even imagined. I have very close family in an area of Mpls that is being crushed by ICE. Pillars of their community who are citizens have been taken away, teachers are surrounding and guarding the school buildings at drop-off/pick-up times. Their Target store was invaded. INSANE. In answer to your question: No. We are not better off than we were a year ago.
It's impossible to provide perspective on relative well-being without considering politics. Most of what this administration does is driven by revenge, greed, hatred, and a selfishly blind view of what most Americans want and need. So cherry-picking economic reports to find anything positive does not reflect the pain many of our neighbors feel. They're getting clubbed in the streets and robbed at the grocery store. They're seeing their rights stripped away. They are embarrassed that the US has become a bully on the global stage, grifting billions toward the oligarchs and the Trump family.
I may be better off because I am fortunate enough to be financially sound, plus I'm a straight white male. Others, not so much. A president needs to follow the Constitution and serve in the best interests of ALL Americans. This one clearly is not.