CA, US & World
Border Crossings, Tariffs, and Economic Jitters: Arizona Voters React to Trump's First 100 Days
President Trump’s first 100 days in office are stirring mixed reactions across Arizona. In Nogales, while illegal border crossings are down — fulfilling a major Trump campaign promise — a new problem is emerging: the economic toll of tariffs on imports from Mexico.
Business owners at the border report a sharp 40 percent drop in sales due to fewer legal crossings, an unexpected consequence of ongoing trade turmoil. Just an hour north in Tucson, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, voters are feeling the ripple effects too.
Tamara Varga, a Trump supporter and local business owner employing 50 people with special needs, says she remains hopeful but cautious. While she praises the president’s stance on protecting programs like Medicaid and Social Security, she expresses concern over rising costs tied to tariffs. "The items that we put in our gift baskets have gone up," she says, noting the strain on her business. Varga, a lifelong Republican and devout Christian, also admits she no longer believes claims that the 2020 election was rigged, and is open to supporting Democrats in local races.
Meanwhile, Ray Flores, a restaurateur whose family business dates back 100 years, says consumer confidence has taken a hit. "We're seeing numbers dropping 7–8 percent around the system," Flores said, pointing to rising caution among diners hesitant to spend.
A new CNN poll released Monday shows 59 percent of Americans believe Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions — a sign that trade tensions and economic fears may become lasting challenges.
This story is credited to CNN Newsource.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
April 28, 2025
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