During Donald Trump’s rise and time in office, his most vocal supporters in the MAGA movement made bold promises about what would and wouldn’t happen under his leadership.
At the time, critics who warned about the potential fallout from Trump’s economic and immigration policies were brushed off by MAGA supporters.
As David Pakman, host of The David Pakman Show, put it, they were told they were being hysterical. These warnings were largely ignored, often waved away with lines like, “That’s just Trump being Trump.”
But fast forward to today, and many of those warnings are coming true, and it’s ordinary Americans who are paying the price.
Tariffs That Were Supposed To Hurt China Are Hurting Americans
Trump promised that his tariffs would punish China and help the U.S. economy. He insisted that China is going to pay. Fox News echoed the claim.
But that’s not how tariffs work. Tariffs are import taxes that U.S. companies pay when they bring in goods from abroad.
Those companies then raise prices to cover the added cost, meaning the burden lands on American consumers and businesses, not on foreign governments.
As David Pakman explained, “If Ford imports something from China for their cars, Ford pays the import tax, also known as the tariff.”
The result? Everyday items like electronics and clothing cost more.
Despite MAGA claims that this wouldn’t happen, it is. Prices are rising, and tariffs are a big part of the reason.
Mass Deportations Are Wrecking Key Industries
Trump ramped up deportation efforts, claiming this would open up jobs for Americans and improve the economy.
MAGA backers said industries wouldn’t suffer. The reality has been the opposite.
“Farms in California can’t find workers to pick crops and produce is rotting in the fields,” Pakman said.
Sectors like agriculture, construction, and food processing rely heavily on immigrant labor.
Without those workers, construction is slowing down, housing supply is falling, and food prices are climbing. Meat processing plants are also struggling to operate at full capacity.
Trump supporters claimed Americans would fill these jobs. That hasn’t happened. Instead, businesses are stuck, shelves are emptier, and prices are going up.
Inflation Fueled By Trump’s Economic Policies
Trump’s backers claimed his policies would result in lower prices and strong growth.
They said tax cuts for the rich would pay for themselves, tariffs would boost domestic production, and everything would balance out.
None of that has played out.
Pakman points to Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve, massive tax cuts for billionaires, and rising tariffs as key drivers of inflation.
“If you deport the agricultural workforce, food’s going to cost more. It’s simple economics, which they claim to understand.”
Inflation isn’t just some abstract theory. It’s hitting people where it hurts: at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and in the housing market.
Social Programs Are No Longer Off Limits
Republicans used to say they would never touch Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. But now, the message is shifting.
Pakman notes that it went from “never going to touch those things” to “we’re just going to reform them,” and now to “we are going to touch these things but it’s going to be for the greater good.”
That’s a far cry from the promises Trump made to older Americans and working families. Cuts and changes are now openly on the table, despite past assurances.
The Wall, The Lies, and the Consequences
One of the most memorable Trump promises was that Mexico would pay for a border wall.
That never happened. Trump built about 200 miles of wall, and American taxpayers footed the bill.
Pakman put it plainly: “From a construction perspective, you couldn’t do it in four years. From a political perspective, Mexico was never going to pay for the thing.”
And yet, MAGA supporters continue to justify the broken promise with convoluted explanations.
The real issue isn’t just that the wall wasn’t finished, it’s that the promise was never grounded in reality.
Real People Are Hurting
Pakman emphasized that this isn’t just about scoring political points. “Real people are suffering because of policies that were sold on lies,” he said.
From higher grocery bills to stalled construction and slashed services, the effects are visible and personal.
People are living with the fallout of decisions that were sold as easy fixes but were based on false promises.
Moving Beyond Political Bubbles
Pakman also made a broader point: many Americans aren’t engaged in political discussions or media.
“Most people don’t watch political shows,” he said. That makes it easier for bad policies to go unchecked.
He believes the focus should shift to mobilizing the tens of millions of nonvoters rather than arguing over the fine points of Democratic Party ideology.
“We’ve got to go and get those non-voters. That is really the opportunity.”
Final Thoughts
Republicans and MAGA influencers once said none of this would happen. But the tariffs are raising prices.
Deportations are causing labor shortages. Inflation is climbing. Social programs are at risk. And real people are hurting.
The gap between what was promised and what’s happening is no longer theoretical. It’s real.
And it’s time more people paid attention before the same promises are recycled in the next election cycle.