[Source/Observer Network Qi Qian] During the 2024 presidential election, support from younger generations was seen as one of the key factors for Donald Trump's victory. However, just over 100 days after he took office, the Republican Party's advantage in this demographic is beginning to shift.
According to a May 3 report by Bloomberg, American youth are increasingly dissatisfied with the Trump administration. Trump's determination to provoke a trade war with China, targeting Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu, as well as TikTok, may disrupt the lives of many American youth who have become accustomed to fast fashion, TikTok videos, and Xbox, further affecting young consumers who are newly economically independent and already under pressure from inflation.
"Furious," "Unaffordable," "Don't know what to do"... Many young people complain that the tariff policies are ruining their lives. At the same time, there are also voices of dissatisfaction within the Republican Party. The report states that Trump's large-scale taxation may impact the Republican Party's performance in next year's congressional midterm elections.
"American Youth Are Increasingly Discontent with Trump"
An exit poll conducted by Edison Research shows that between 2020 and 2024, Trump made significant progress among young voters, increasing his support rates among young voters in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania by 14%, 15%, and 18%, respectively. In Michigan, Trump's support rate among voters aged 18 to 29 was even on par with former Vice President Harris.
The report notes that support from the younger generation helped Trump return to the White House and gave the Republican Party a slim majority in the House of Representatives. However, just 100 days later, these young voters began to worry that Trump's trade policies aimed at reshaping the economy were harming their interests.
After taking office, Trump provoked a global trade war, announcing a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, and the "small exemption" policy for Hong Kong and mainland China expired on May 2. China strongly retaliated, implementing export controls on various rare earth-related items in addition to tariffs.
Bloomberg reports that despite Trump's failure to force China to the negotiating table, his policies have caused serious consequences for the U.S. economy, particularly affecting Americans who rely on relatively inexpensive Chinese products. Products from Temu and Shein no longer enjoy tax exemptions, and TikTok's future remains uncertain.
CNN and Bloomberg noted that on April 25, Temu and Shein raised prices on a wide range of products, from lawn chairs to swimsuits, before the new tariffs took effect. Shein almost doubled the prices of nearly all categories of products on its platform, with some items seeing price increases of more than double, and kitchen paper prices rising by as much as 377%.
Shein increased prices on almost all products, with kitchen paper prices rising by 377% Bloomberg Chart
According to a February study by economists from UCLA and Yale University, approximately 48% of small packages were sent to the poorest areas of the United States, while only 22% were sent to the wealthiest areas. Additionally, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2021, low-income households spent three times more of their income on clothing compared to wealthy households.
"Trump's Administration Targets Chinese E-commerce Platforms, and Low-Income American Families Will Suffer the Most Losses." CNN published an article recently stating that after President Trump targeted Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, low-income American families were shocked because they felt they had "no other choice."
Bloomberg mentioned that now, young Americans are starting to feel frustrated. Previously, they played a crucial role in Trump's electoral victory, helping him achieve the best performance among Republican presidential candidates in the past 20 years among voters under 30.
A recent poll conducted by The Economist of Britain and YouGov found that in April, 57% of Americans aged 18 to 29 disapproved of Trump's work, an increase of 14 percentage points since he took office, and the largest increase compared to other age groups. David Montgomery, a data analyst at YouGov, stated that young independent voters have shifted from "mildly supporting Trump" to "strongly opposing Trump."
Bloomberg believes that although the White House may still change its tariff policy, imposing large-scale taxes on Chinese goods could have lasting political impacts on the Republican Party in next year's congressional midterm elections.
Trump's Tariffs Affect All Aspects of Young Americans' Lives
"Everyone is furious," said Chelsea Hollings, a 26-year-old college student and content creator from Detroit. Tariffs are affecting every aspect of her life, with prices for phones, electricity, and her favorite online clothing store all going up.
"Shein is currently the only place I buy clothes," she said, adding that she also purchases other household items from the site. Now, "I feel like I can no longer express creativity in my style." She almost exclusively buys clothes from Shein, purchasing large quantities each season and frequently sharing them with her social media followers.
Bloomberg reports that like other American youths, Hollings finds that the cost-effectiveness of U.S. shopping malls is declining, with fewer clothing options available and higher prices. Due to changes in consumer behavior, some budget retailers have either gone bankrupt or reduced their physical store operations.
In addition to clothing, Microsoft announced it would raise prices on Xbox gaming consoles produced in China, with prices potentially increasing by up to $100 per unit, and Nintendo postponed pre-orders for the new Switch gaming console due to tariffs.
In the past two weeks, Americans have been frantically shopping and stockpiling on Temu and Shein US Media
Young American entrepreneurs are also feeling the pressure. Chelsea Brown, a 32-year-old owner of a home goods company, applied for her first loan to alleviate the rising costs due to U.S. tariff policies, as some of her most popular products are custom-made in China.
"We obviously cannot afford a 145% tariff," Brown said, "Honestly, I don't know what to do." With two full-time employees and some contract workers, bearing the cost of tariffs would be unsustainable given her company's mid-to-low profit margins.
Brown said that a video she posted on TikTok about "finding family heirlooms" brought significant attention to her company, earning her the nickname "Heirloom Hunter" online. She said, "TikTok brought incredible changes to my business," last year without advertising expenses, her sales exceeded $1 million. But out of concern for being banned, she has begun shifting her company's social media strategy from TikTok to other platforms.
It is worth noting that Trump attributed part of his success among young voters to TikTok. An anonymous White House official stated that if there is a deal that meets the requirements of the bipartisan "ban or block" bill, the White House will seriously consider opening an account on TikTok.
The report mentions that despite the ban on TikTok on government devices, the White House still attracts millions of online eyes on other websites such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. Press Secretary Levitt almost weekly releases vertical videos outlining various government initiatives.
Bloomberg noted that there are also voices of dissatisfaction with Trump's tariff policies within the Republican Party and its supporters. Some young Republicans still believe that Trump needs more time. However, Benjamin Rosoff, chairman of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Republican Club and a 20-year-old, considers the initial tariffs introduced by Trump "exorbitantly high" and "somewhat crazy."
Rosoff said that he supported Trump in last year's election but backed another Republican candidate during the primaries. He believes that Trump should "stay away from people like Navarro," who is considered one of the most ardent proponents of tariffs in the White House.
Jacob Fox, a 22-year-old independent voter, considers Trump's stance on tariffs "extreme." Although he supported Trump in 2020, due to concerns that Trump's promises on trade and immigration would affect the economy, he did not support Trump in last November's election. He said, "I think I was right."
Fox added that due to concerns about a potential economic downturn, his peers are anxious or struggling with job prospects and plans for graduate studies.
This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500586536774222373/
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