Donald Trump has always excelled at spinning the narrative to paint himself as the hero. From “alternative facts” to bending the truth to suit his agenda, he’s long been a master of re-shaping reality. But now, his usual tricks are beginning to unravel. His latest comments on tariffs and the economy have raised eyebrows—and it’s clear he’s struggling to keep his story consistent.
Take, for example, his recent remarks during a Cabinet meeting. Trump made an odd attempt to downplay the impact of his trade war, suggesting that if tariffs raise the cost of goods, children might just have to settle for two dolls instead of thirty. “Maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally,” he said. It’s an attempt to sugarcoat the reality that tariffs have pushed prices higher, directly contradicting his promise to make goods more affordable for Americans.
Yet, in a classic move, Trump shifted the blame to former President Joe Biden, claiming that the stock market woes were “Biden’s” responsibility. This, despite having touted it as “Trump’s stock market” when the economy was soaring under Biden’s leadership. The narrative flips are becoming dizzying, and it’s harder for voters to keep up.
This confusion comes after the Commerce Department released news that U.S. GDP shrank by 0.3% in Trump’s first three months back in office. The drop, driven largely by an increase in imports, reflects the fallout of his own trade policies. In fact, imports surged in the first quarter of 2025 as businesses rushed to bring in foreign-made goods before Trump’s tariffs hit. Meanwhile, the final months of Biden’s presidency saw a growth of 2.4% in GDP. It seems like Trump’s tariffs aren’t having the desired effect—at least not yet.
In an attempt to salvage his narrative, Trump insisted that the U.S. economy would bounce back once companies relocate manufacturing to the U.S. But economists aren’t buying it, and neither are many Americans. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 37% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy.
Trump has been quick to dismiss these unfavorable numbers, calling the polls “fake” on Truth Social, and insisting that everything is actually going great. But the contradictions are hard to ignore. As his usual strategies to reshape reality fall apart, it seems clear that Trump is losing control of the story he’s always been able to tell. And as his approval ratings drop and his rhetoric grows more desperate, many Americans are starting to view him in a new, more troubling light—one that reflects an increasing fear of authoritarianism.
