During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly promised that his economic policies would result in the best economy the United States had ever seen. With tax cuts, deregulation, and aggressive trade policies, Trump declared that the U.S. would experience a “boom” of unprecedented proportions. Early in his presidency, the economy appeared to be thriving, with steady growth and low unemployment rates.

However, 2020 proved to be a devastating year for the U.S. economy. The COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the global economy, and despite initial optimism, Trump’s administration struggled to contain the virus and mitigate its economic impact. By April 2020, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7%, the highest since the Great Depression. Over 40 million people filed for unemployment, and millions more were left in economic uncertainty.

While Trump continued to tout the strength of the pre-pandemic economy, the reality was stark. The pandemic revealed deep flaws in the U.S. healthcare system, a lack of preparedness, and a failure to effectively address the public health crisis. Businesses shuttered, millions lost jobs, and millions more faced financial hardship. The economy entered a deep recession, with GDP shrinking by 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, the worst decline since records began.

Trump’s handling of the pandemic, particularly his downplaying of the virus and inconsistent public health messaging, further eroded public confidence in his economic stewardship. The long-term economic damage from the pandemic lingered even after vaccines became available in late 2020. The economic recovery, while underway, was uneven, leaving many Americans still struggling.

Why did you vote for him again in November 2024?