Celebrating his first 100 days back in the White House with trademark bravado, Donald Trump used the moment to defend his escalating trade war — a policy that’s proving costly for many American households. Despite campaign promises to ease the cost of living, Trump’s latest economic strategy is leaving many wondering whether “America First” actually means Americans pay more.

Back in August 2024, during a campaign speech, Trump told voters he’d bring prices down starting on “day one” of his presidency, largely by boosting U.S. oil production and cutting trade reliance. “We will drill, baby, drill,” he vowed, stirring up applause with familiar slogans.

But since reclaiming the Oval Office, the President has leaned hard into tariffs. On April 2, he announced a 10% levy on goods from most countries, effective July 9 unless renegotiated trade deals are reached. Already, there’s a 25% tariff on imports like cars, steel, and aluminum — with Canada, Mexico, and China hit hardest. China, in response, hiked its own tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. The European Union, meanwhile, is bracing for retaliation.

In an interview with ABC’s Terry Moran, Trump dismissed concerns that these tariffs would raise prices on everything from clothing to electronics. “That’s good… they deserve it,” he said bluntly, referring to China. “At 145, they basically can’t do much business with the United States. They were ripping us off like nobody’s ever ripped us off.”

He also pointed fingers at other nations, saying, “Almost every country in the world was ripping us off.” But Beijing doesn’t appear ready to back down, warning that the U.S. is abusing tariff policies, with no signs of de-escalation.

As price hikes ripple through the economy, Trump maintains that Americans aren’t feeling the pinch. “The country’s doing great,” he said during the April 29 interview. “Wait till you see the real numbers come out in six months.” He characterized the tariffs as long-overdue retaliation after years of what he called “trading abuse.”

When Moran pressed Trump about reputational damage, particularly after his controversial remarks about Canada and the recurring joke that it could become “America’s 51st state,” Trump shrugged it off. “That’s their prerogative,” he said, before pivoting to attack his predecessor. “We had a president that couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs. We were laughed at. Now we’re respected.”

But respect isn’t translating into relief for everyday Americans. Analysts say the cost of living has surged under Trump’s economic plan. Households are now expected to pay an additional $4,000 to $8,000 annually due to rising costs on imported goods — from toys and tech to groceries and cars.

When Moran pointed out that even Trump voters were feeling buyer’s remorse, the President doubled down: “Well, they did sign up for it… This is what I campaigned on.” He denied breaking his promise to lower prices, insisting, “I have.”

Polls, however, tell a different story. According to a joint ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Trump holds the lowest 100-day approval rating of any U.S. president in the past 80 years. More than half of respondents disapprove of how he’s handling his return. Another poll by The New York Times/Siena College found that only 42% approve of his performance so far — with words like “scary” and “chaotic” used to describe his leadership.

While Trump continues to claim economic victory, many Americans appear to be struggling with the reality of rising costs and heightened global tensions. Whether his aggressive trade policy brings the results he promises or further strains household budgets remains to be seen.