### Economic Turmoil: Trump's First 100 Days Marked by Recession Fears In the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.3%, marking the first decline in three years. This downturn has been attributed to a surge in imports as businesses rushed to bring in goods before the implementation of President Donald Trump's tariffs. The economic contraction has sparked fears of a potential recession, leading to significant drops in stock markets and increasing scrutiny of Trump's trade policies. Amidst this turmoil, Trump has consistently blamed his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for the economic woes, claiming that the current situation is a result of "Biden's economy" rather than his own tariff strategies [https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2025/May/03/recession-blues-mark-trumps-100-tariff-days]. ### Breakdown of Economic Impact and Political Responses 1. **Economic Contraction**: The U.S. GDP shrank by 0.3% in Q1 2025, the first decline since early 2022, primarily due to a surge in imports as companies prepared for impending tariffs [https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2025/may/01/us-economy-shrinks-in-first-months-of-25]. 2. **Market Reactions**: Wall Street experienced significant declines, reflecting growing fears over the economic slowdown and the impact of Trump's tariff policies [https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/wall-street-takes-a-dive-amid-growing-fears-over-us-economic-slowdown-2717752-2025-05-01]. 3. **Political Blame Game**: Trump has repeatedly shifted blame to Biden, asserting that the economic issues are a continuation of Biden's policies, despite evidence linking the contraction to his own tariff strategies [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-economy-unexpectedly-shrinks-first-quarter-trump-blames-biden-5100821]. 4. **Public Sentiment**: Trump's approval ratings have taken a hit as the economic situation worsens, with many Americans expressing dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/trump-struggles-to-explain-weak-economic-data-as-he-reaches-100-day-mark]. ### Supporting Data on Economic Performance - **GDP Growth**: The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of **0.3%** in Q1 2025, the first drop in three years [https://www.financial-world.org/news/news/financial/28137/us-gdp-drops-in-early-2025-as-trumps-trade-moves-shake-markets]. - **Stock Market Decline**: Following the tariff announcements, the stock market has seen its worst performance since Nixon's administration, with significant drops in major indices [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-pins-stock-market-struggles-biden-weeks-taking-credit-rcna203702]. - **Import Surge**: The contraction was exacerbated by a **record surge in imports**, as businesses sought to stockpile goods before tariffs took effect [https://www.arise.tv/us-economy-contracts-gdp-falls-as-trump-tariffs-trigger-record-import-surge-market-turmoil]. ### Conclusion: A Tumultuous Start for Trump's Presidency The first 100 days of President Trump's administration have been overshadowed by economic challenges, primarily driven by his tariff policies. The contraction of the U.S. economy, coupled with significant market declines, has led to a blame game between Trump and Biden, with Trump insisting that the current economic issues are not his fault. 1. **Economic Contraction**: The U.S. GDP has shrunk for the first time in three years, raising concerns about a potential recession. 2. **Market Reactions**: Wall Street's significant declines reflect investor fears regarding the economic outlook. 3. **Political Blame**: Trump continues to deflect responsibility, attributing the economic downturn to Biden's policies. 4. **Public Sentiment**: The administration faces increasing scrutiny and declining approval ratings as economic conditions worsen. In summary, Trump's initial term has been marked by economic uncertainty, with tariffs playing a central role in the unfolding narrative [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14666029/U-S-economy-reverse-tariff-war-Trump-blames-Biden.html].