Policy Memo

One Year From Liberation Day

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Published

April 2, 2026

Author

John Shelton

Topline

One year ago, President Trump unilaterally enacted the largest tax increase on the American people since World War II through his unprecedented Liberation Day tariffs. Within days, he rolled back the initial announcement and began walking back some tariffs, but not others, leaving American businesses, families and the stock market in suspense. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down what became most of the Liberation Day tariffs. Today, the Trump Administration continues to attempt to implement his tariff agenda through other sections of federal law.

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Here’s what the American people need to know one year after Liberation Day

No Full-Time Job Growth Since Liberation Day

American Families – Not Foreign Countries – Paid the Tariffs

American Are Losing but the Swamp is Winning

Bottom Line

Liberation Day’s promises have largely failed. Manufacturing jobs have not flooded back into the U.S. Alternatively, the grand promises of recession and economic disaster remain largely unfounded due to the rescission of the tariffs.

Notes

  1. 1.4M is the difference between the Civilian Labor Force Level in February 2026 (170,483,000) and what it would have been if the Labor Force Participation Rate had held at March 2025’s levels (62.5%). ↩