Trump policies already strangling US small business, and no one at The White House gives a damn.

Donald Trump’s second administration is already shaping up to be a nightmare for small businesses in America.

Let’s not sugarcoat this: the trade wars, tariffs, and budget cuts championed by Trump are creating a perfect storm of rising costs, reduced consumer spending, and widespread economic uncertainty. What small business owners are facing under Trump is a policy agenda that seems designed not to stimulate growth, but to suffocate it.

Let’s start with the obvious: the trade war. Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on China and other countries has wreaked havoc on the supply chains of small businesses all over the country. It’s easy for people in power, especially those who don't know a thing about running a small business, to sit in an ivory tower and talk about “leveling the playing field” with China, but for small business owners, this is a different story. Small businesses are the ones who bear the brunt of these policies, facing higher costs for goods, materials, and imports.

If you’re a small business owner who relies on imported goods—whether it’s electronics, clothing, or raw materials—you’re already seeing the price hikes. In fact, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recently reported that nearly 40% of small businesses are seeing higher costs because of these tariffs. For many, this is more than just an inconvenience; it’s a real crisis. They’re being forced to either eat those higher costs and sacrifice their profit margins or raise prices on customers who are already pinched. It's a lose-lose scenario.

For example, a small clothing boutique that once imported affordable fabrics from overseas is now faced with significant markup on raw materials because of Trump’s tariffs. The only options? Either pass those costs onto consumers or go out of business. Let’s be real—most small businesses don't have the luxury of cutting costs in other areas. They’re already working with razor-thin margins. When customers start to pull back on spending because they can’t afford to pay $20 more for a $200 item, that business starts to shrink. And when enough small businesses shrink, they lay people off, meaning unemployment rises.

The trickle-down effect of Trump’s policies extends far beyond the business owners themselves. It touches every level of commerce. Think of it like a rock thrown into a pond. The ripples are wide and deep. When small businesses are hit with higher tariffs, they’re forced to adjust their operations. That means suppliers, distributors, and service providers also get hit. Everyone from warehouse workers to truck drivers to administrative assistants feels the squeeze. And it’s not just isolated to retail or manufacturing—every industry that relies on global trade is feeling the pressure.

Don’t believe it? Just ask the restaurant owners. They're facing inflation on food costs, supplies, and labor, while also struggling to maintain the same price points. To make matters worse, as wages stagnate, many customers are reluctant to spend. This isn’t just a theoretical problem; it’s happening right now, with small businesses across the country tightening their belts and, in some cases, closing their doors. According to a recent report by the Small Business Administration, small businesses that were once thriving in sectors like hospitality, food service, and manufacturing are already seeing a sharp decline in revenues due to both tariffs and the broader economic fallout of Trump’s policies.

And then there’s the attack on jobs. Trump’s cuts to government programs and his focus on shrinking the federal workforce may have sounded good to his base, but in reality, it has had serious consequences for small businesses. As unemployment rises due to job cuts and the erosion of economic security, people simply have less money to spend on luxuries—things like clothing, dining out, or entertainment.

That reduction in consumer spending has an immediate effect on small businesses. More than 70% of small business owners recently reported that they were seeing weaker demand for their products and services. When the consumer class starts cutting back on

discretionary spending, that’s when small businesses feel the crunch.

Worse still, if we look at Trump’s plan to slash taxes for the wealthiest Americans and the corporations, it’s clear that the so-called “trickle-down” economics don’t trickle anywhere near small businesses. Instead, they leave small business owners watching from the sidelines as the very policies meant to bolster their success go to the rich and large corporations that already have a stranglehold on the market.

“Trickle-down” was a disaster once before, and it will be again. It is the small-minded and short-effect “cure all” for the wealthy class. Those not fortunate to be wealthy will get banned every time with the results.

What’s worse is that for many small business owners, there is no clear path forward for relief. The Trump Administration is taking this “scorched Earth” tack with not one single concept of what happens on the other side.

Sure, business owners can file complaints with the government, but good luck getting a meaningful response from an administration that seems more intent on pushing through political ideologies than actually solving problems for the working class. The courts might step in eventually, but that could take years. Meanwhile, small businesses are left scrambling to keep the lights on.

They are closing their doors, putting their lives and those of their families in serious jeopardy. Keep asking yourself why no one in the Trump Administration seems to see this, or even give the smallest of a damn.

Let’s face it: small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and they’re the ones being slaughtered on the altar of Trump’s grand trade war and corporate tax cuts. In the end, the damage done by Trump’s policies is real and immediate. Small businesses don’t have decades to wait for a solution—they need help now. And unless the courts take action or we see a drastic shift in leadership, the small businesses that have been the backbone of this nation will continue to wither, trapped in a cycle of rising costs, fewer customers, and greater economic uncertainty.

The road to recovery will be long and painful—and for some small business owners, it may be too late.

For some, it already is.

In his role as a journalist, Ed Berliner openly challenges anyone with a contrasting position to write him and explain themselves. Ed is also booking now his appearances at businesses, events, conventions and meetings with an open mind to discuss this issue.

Reach him at fuzzydogsproductions@gmail.com.