Too much too fast – Trump, Musk, and DOGE are overwhelming Americans and global economies

President Donald Trump, tariffs, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are the most mentioned words on American social media right now, and we can all take a wild guess why. 

The Trump administration has been “all hands on deck” in fighting corruption, “money laundering,” and taking the US back to leadership status in global trade. Are their methods working? Maybe yes, but with a lot of costs.

Even before the 47th President of the US entered the Oval Office, MAGAnomics had already earned titles “dictatorship” and a government “for the billionaires, by the billionaires.” (Senator Bernie Sanders)

After weeks of executive orders from Trump, left-wing politicians have intensified the name-calling. Needless to say, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing more than adding fuel to the fire.

Trump’s tariffs: A threat to the global trading system

President Trump has ignited fears of economic instability. DJT is onto Canada, Mexico, and China. His administration argues that these tariffs are necessary to curb illegal drug trafficking.

His aim? To bring about greater trade fairness, but is this just English for “I want America to come first in everything?”

According to the US Commerce Department, December saw a 4% increase in the value of imports, reaching $293.1B.

Economists, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz argues that “Virtually all economists think that the impact of the tariffs will be very bad for America and for the world.”

The concern, shared by many is that the tariffs could drive up costs for American consumers. Tarrifs will further stifle economic growth, and negatively impact US workers. But when push finally comes to shove, countries like Mexico stand to lose even more.

Several sources reveal that the US is the destination of 35% of Mexico’s total exports. This includes cars, machinery, liquor, and mineral oils. It’s no wonder Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum moved swiftly to negotiate with Trump to hold off on trade tariffs. 

Is the economy ready for Trump’s plans?

Companies, nervous about the looming trade barriers, are beginning to prepare for higher costs. In the case of Chicago’s Hop Butcher For the World brewery, the prospect of rising costs for imports on goods like aluminum and barley is a serious concern for co-owner Jeremiah Zimmer. 

“Aluminum and barley. Those are the two things that we use a ton of those are the two things that come to mind when I think of, you know, imports from Canada, Mexico and China,” Zimmer told ABC news.

For restaurant owners like Scott Weiner of Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, the consequences of tariffs could be even more direct. With fresh produce often imported from Mexico, Weiner worries that higher food prices could force him to pass on costs to customers.

 “Produce isn’t always available in the domestic United States, because we have to buy produce seasonally,” Weiner explained. “When tariffs impact our food prices, we’ll unfortunately have to pass on those prices.“

Per a New York Times report, China has accused the Trump administration of making “unfounded and false allegations” regarding China’s role in the fentanyl trade, which Trump claims justifies trade tariffs. 

China has also reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), challenging the legality of the tariffs. The government argues that these measures are discriminatory and protectionist, and they violate international trade rules.

But if we are being blunt about this whole situation, China, like many other countries, needs trade to sustain its economy. Would “no access” to the US economy really affect them? Not quite.

If we’ve learned anything from how the market reacted to artificial intelligence company DeepSeek’s recently released chatbot, China can make something good, very capable of handling user demands, and with a very meagre budget, as compared to American tech companies. 

And that’s exactly what Trump is trying to battle with. Will he succeed? That remains to be seen. 

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency under scrutiny

Elon Musk’s involvement with US government systems is a comical story and not the kind that Kevin Feige or the Russo brothers would write. Over the week, reports surfaced that Musk’s team, alongside the Department of Government Efficiency, had gained access to a Treasury Department payment system responsible for distributing trillions of dollars annually. 

Many Americans are totally unaware that critical systems people rely on—which run on (and funnel!) taxpayer dollars—are being smashed and grabbed. This article summarizes what's going on. Please share it with friends and family so they help demand action.https://t.co/RJNMSPW7Yy

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 4, 2025

This prompted immediate legal action from federal employee unions, who filed a lawsuit to block Musk’s access. Among those stepping up is the Attorney General of California, Rob Bont, with a team of 19 attorneys. Yes, you read it right: 20 attorneys are calling DOGE and Elon Musk’s efforts a “blatant overreach of power.”

The focus on government inefficiency highlights the strain on public-sector institutions. Critics argue that diminishing the capacity of federal agencies will eventually lead to slower responses to issues like asylum claims and tax enforcement. 

Musk and President Trump’s push for “efficiencies” in government might come with good intent, but it will only exacerbate the underlying problems caused by “staffing” issues.

We know for sure that federal employee numbers will shrink, but the tasks the departments are expected to handle, especially now with all the budget cuts, have expanded significantly. Will the federal government have the capacity to serve the public effectively? Not in the months to come.

The situation surrounding Trump, DOGE, Musk, and the broader economic implications of their actions points to an uncertain future, both for the US economy and for global trade. Trump is ready to fight everyone, Musk seemingly doesn’t have time to fend off “personal differences,” and US-based businesses have to think about one thing, how to serve Americans. 

The Trump administration might be taking things too fast, and even though their policies could work in the long run, for now, US citizens, together with those from neighboring countries, will have to suffer.