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- THIS WEEK: TRUMP AND HIS TARIFFS
THIS WEEK: TRUMP AND HIS TARIFFS
The data shows Americans are talking about the tariffs, and not in a good way.
Social Currant
April 15, 2025
Data & Dissent: The Facts Creators Need to Fight Back
Welcome back to Data & Dissent, a bi-weekly newsletter from Haley Lickstein, Navigator Research, and Social Currant—designed to help creators cut through the chaos of the first 100 days of the Trump Administration with data-driven insights to fuel your content and activism.
Last call for creator pitches: We want to hear from YOU!
Have thoughts on how to use Navigator data in your content? Let us know by submitting your ideas through Navigator’s Creator Feedback & Content Pitches Form. Together, we can make sure the right message reaches the right people.
Pitches should be based on data included in this newsletter, or other published data on Navigator’s website!
THIS WEEK: TRUMP AND HIS TARIFFS
Trump and his tariffs have been dominating the news as well as Navigator’s most recent research reports. So, let’s start with the basics: what even is a tariff?
You can think of it as a tax on goods coming from another country. When President Trump implements tariffs on, say, Chinese-made sneakers or German cars, it makes those items more expensive in the U.S.. The idea is to protect American-made products by making foreign ones pricier… but in reality, Trump’s tariffs will likely make everything more expensive for consumers - which is what the data shows Americans are feeling and concerned about.
The data shows Americans are talking about the tariffs, and not in a good way.
Two in three Americans say they’re hearing a lot about Trump’s tariffs
52% of people say the tariffs make them feel more negatively about him—including nearly half of independents.
Overall, four in five Americans have seen, read, or heard about tariffs recently. The topic is officially mainstream.
People are leaning into the conversation online and in real life. Which means as creators, we have a huge opportunity to talk about the tariffs, what they do, and what they mean for American people. Using our platforms to lean into the conversation has never been more important- or more resonant. The data shows the more people learn about Trump’s tariffs, the less they approve of them.
Tariffs are deeply unpopular right now: just 30% view them favorably, while 58% view them unfavorably.
Even in union households—where Trump has tried to build support—opinions on tariffs are underwater by 41 points.
Whether someone went to college or not, tariffs are not hitting well.
The consistent dislike for tariffs is translating into how people feel about Trump and his handling of the economy overall. Historically, Trump’s economic approval rating sat above his overall approval. Not anymore.
Less than half of Americans approve of his handling of the economy [42% approve, 55% disapprove, net -13]
That’s actually worse than his overall job approval, which is at net -9.
And among independents? His economic approval has dropped hard—from net -15 to net -28. Yikes.
This marks the lowest economic approval rating Trump has had since 2019, back when the government shutdown seemed to drag on forever.
We know the economy is one of the top issues for Americans. Trump promised to lower prices and fix the economy on day 1, and now people are reacting to his unfulfilled promises.
Recent Navigator polling found that:
Nearly 3 in 5 Americans say the economy is getting worse (that’s a 22-point jump since November 2020).
62% say they feel uneasy about their personal finances.
72% believe Trump’s policies are fueling stock market volatility.
So what does all this mean: Trump's Tariffs are unpopular, and messaging around what these tariffs are and why they impact American consumers and small businesses are resonating with people on all sides of the aisle. Keep using your platforms and voices to spread the word!
See you in two weeks!
Content to uplift: Please be sure to watch + share recent content from Chesko and Lynae featuring Navigator data!