1k
499
0
199
388
3471Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban is speaking out about the impact of tariffs on America’s small businesses.
In a post that quickly went viral on Bluesky, Cuban took aim at President Donald Trump’s administration for failing to address the crushing effects recent tariffs have had on small business owners.
His comments struck a chord in an economic climate where many small business operators say they feel overlooked and under pressure.
“Not a single word to help the 33m small businesses in this country,” Cuban wrote. “Not from anyone in the administration.”
He pointed out that these businesses form the backbone of the U.S. economy and are uniquely vulnerable to sudden cost spikes.
Many rely heavily on Chinese suppliers and simply don’t have the cash to front the massive costs triggered by new tariffs.
Cuban’s post sparked a wave of responses, with small business owners across the country echoing the same fear: that they’re being pushed to the brink, without warning or support.
‘I Could Lose My Home’
Beth Benike, a Minnesota veteran and founder of Busy Baby, is one of those small business owners.
Her company makes baby products using food-grade silicone and compression mold machines—both sourced from China.
After paying $160,000 to manufacture her latest shipment, she found out it would cost even more than that just to get the goods into the U.S.
“After today’s announcement, and the impending 104% tariff, I am abandoning my products in China,” Benike told her followers in a video she shared online. “I am leaving them there because I simply cannot afford to ship them here.”
Trump has since increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, leaving Benike and others scrambling for alternatives.
She says she now faces the terrifying possibility of losing her home. “It has completely stifled my growth in big box retail, which has been our main goal for three years,” she said.
“I could lose my home, and I don’t understand it, and I don’t know what to do.”
Benike has been trying to come up with creative workarounds, including possibly repackaging her products overseas and reimporting them through countries not affected by the tariffs during the temporary pause.
But those solutions are complex, time-consuming, and expensive—especially for a company of her size.
‘A Doomsday Scenario’
Matt Rollens, CEO of Dragon Glassware, described the situation as a “doomsday scenario for small businesses.”
His California-based company sells licensed drinkware made in China, with about $5 million in annual revenue.
The 145% tariff Trump imposed has left him holding inventory overseas, unable to bring it in without massive losses.
“It’s quite a mess,” Rollens said, adding that raising prices 50% to offset costs could destroy consumer demand.
And moving production to the U.S. isn’t a real option. “It’s not even a matter of cost. It’s a matter, really, of specialty and expertise,” he explained, noting that some of the craftspeople he relies on have decades of experience not easily found stateside.
Rollens says he’s hoping the tariffs will be rolled back within months. But if not, layoffs or closure are likely. His company employs four full-time workers and relies on a loyal base of customers through Amazon and Walmart.
He’s already paused plans for new product development for the 2025 holiday season. “The longer it drags on, the worse it’s going to get,” he warned.
Widespread Frustration, No Clear Answers
The frustration Cuban expressed in his post isn’t just about the tariffs themselves—it’s about the silence from leadership.
Small business owners have been vocal, emotional, and open about how devastating these policy shifts are, yet say they’ve heard nothing from the administration offering relief, guidance, or even acknowledgment.
“No one deserves this. No one. Regardless of who they voted for,” Benike said.
Many entrepreneurs say they are speaking out despite the business risks because they simply don’t see another way forward.
For them, this isn’t about politics. It’s about survival. And as Cuban and others are making clear, the clock is ticking for the tens of millions of small businesses caught in the crossfire.
1k4990199
3883471
