Donald Trump’s plan to slap Americans with the largest tax hike since 1982 is already hurting the backbone of the American economy: small businesses on Main Street.
Many are sharing their frustrations on Reddit and seeking advice on how to survive the storm of Trump’s economic chaos. Owners mentioned foreign distributors refusing to ship products to the United States, paying high costs for import duty fees, and potentially having to close their businesses.
Even small business stars are feeling the pain of Trump’s tariff tax. Beth Fynbo Benike, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s newly named Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year, announced on social media that she is leaving $160,000 worth of her company’s silicone baby mats oversees because she can’t afford to ship them here, writing in a social media post, “I am terrified for my business and for all the small businesses in the United States.”
While some worry about what the future will bring for their livelihoods, others have already been forced to shut down. After nearly 40 years in business, Linen World in Maryland is closing its doors due to Trump’s tax hike.
My Home Contemporary Furniture in Kansas will close after being in business for four years. Store owner Henrik Svendsen said he would have to pass on the cost of tariffs to his customers and questioned the likelihood of Trump’s economic promises, telling reporters, “It’s going to outprice the product and it’s never going to come back to the U.S. where it’s going to be produced here.”
“Trump’s reckless tariff tax isn’t just bad policy, it’s economic arson,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “He’s torching local economies, forcing small businesses to shut down, and putting working people out of jobs. These aren’t Wall Street CEOs with golden parachutes waiting on them, these are Main Street shop owners, family-run stores, and community anchors getting wiped out because of Trump. He’s not fighting for American workers, he’s selling them out and leaving them behind.”
Published: Apr 9, 2025