📉 Is a Trump Recession Coming? Here's What the Data Says | The Josh Lafazan Show
Welcome back to The Josh Lafazan Show, where we cut through the noise and bring you the facts. Today’s top story: Is the U.S. economy under President Donald Trump heading straight for a recession?
The warning signs are flashing. The data is alarming. And the economic fallout could be devastating — not because of a natural disaster or pandemic this time, but because of policy decisions made in the Trump White House.
In this episode, we break it all down:
✅ What a recession actually is
📉 The economic red flags already appearing
⚠️ How Trump’s trade war is backfiring
💥 Who will be hit the hardest if the economy tanks
💡 What Congress can still do to stop it
Let’s dig in. 👇
🟦 What Is a Recession?
A recession occurs when the economy contracts for two straight quarters — usually marked by falling consumer spending, job losses, and negative GDP growth.
America’s had recessions roughly every decade:
2008: Global financial collapse
2001: Dot-com bust
1990: Gulf War downturn
2020: COVID crisis
But this time? Economists warn it may not be an external shock… but a self-inflicted wound.
🟥 The Warning Signs Are Already Here
📉 Consumer spending dropped in May — the first decline in over a year
💼 Job growth has slowed for 3 straight months
📊 Trade deficit ballooned to $93 billion — a 2-year high
🏢 Business investment is cooling fast, with companies freezing hiring
Economists, small business leaders, and Wall Street are all starting to worry. And the common thread? Trump’s economic policies.
🟧 Trump’s Trade War is Tanking the Economy
Trump’s “America First” strategy has become a full-on trade war — and it’s backfiring.
In just the last 6 months, Trump has:
Imposed 25% tariffs on Chinese steel
Threatened to exit trade talks with Canada over a tech tax
Hit European carmakers with new penalties
Clashed with India and Mexico on imports
The result?
🔻 Higher prices for consumers
🔻 Retaliatory tariffs crushing U.S. farmers
🔻 Exporters losing global markets
🔻 Manufacturers paying more for materials
Even conservative outlets like The Wall Street Journal are warning: Trump’s tariffs are backfiring — fast.
🟨 How It’s Hurting Everyday Americans
If the economy slips into recession, here’s what’s at stake:
💸 Consumer spending dries up
🏭 Layoffs increase, especially in blue-collar sectors
📉 Wages stagnate while prices stay high
🏡 Mortgage and credit costs stay elevated
📉 Retirement accounts lose value
It’s the middle class and working families — the very people Trump claims to fight for — who will be hit hardest.
🟩 Can Congress Prevent This?
Time is running out, but here’s what lawmakers could do:
✅ Pass relief for consumers and small businesses
✅ Expand safety nets like unemployment and food assistance
✅ Apply pressure to roll back harmful tariffs
The longer Congress waits, the worse the impact could be.
🟦 Trump Inherited a Strong Economy — And Is Tearing It Down
Let’s not forget what Trump inherited from President Biden:
✔️ Inflation was falling
✔️ Unemployment was at record lows
✔️ Wages were rising
✔️ The deficit was shrinking
✔️ Markets hit all-time highs
But Trump’s playbook — filled with tariffs, deregulation, and foreign brinkmanship — is threatening to undo all of it.
🎙 Final Thoughts
This isn’t just bad luck. It’s bad policy.
The economy is slowing. The data is clear. And unless there’s a course correction soon, Donald Trump may go down as the president who pushed America into a preventable recession.
💬 What do YOU think?
🗳 Are we headed for a Trump recession?
📉 Should Congress act now to stop it?
💡 What’s the solution? Drop your thoughts in the comments ⬇️