As Nevada marks the anniversary of what former President Donald Trump called “Liberation Day,” the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of his tumultuous trade war. Businesses and families across Nevada are wrestling with increased costs, while Joe Lombardo remains a staunch supporter of Trump’s tariff policies. Lombardo even suggested that Nevadans should “feel a little pain” from these tariffs.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Trump’s tariffs, Lombardo opposed the idea of refunds for Nevadans, who faced an extra $1,700 in costs last year for essential goods. Analysts have determined that consumers shoulder 95% of the tariffs’ costs.
“One year after Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day,’ Nevadans are still feeling the ‘pain’ from his erratic tariffs, just like Joe Lombardo wanted. Under the Lombardo-Trump economy, tourism is plummeting, small businesses are in crisis, and working families are struggling to put food on the table,” said Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno. “Nevadans deserve better than a Trump rubber stamp.”
Impact of Tariffs on Nevada
- In 2025, families spent an additional $310 on average for groceries, with fruit prices up 5.5%, meat prices 6% higher, and other goods like coffee and orange juice soaring up to 30%.
- Nevadans, regardless of political affiliation, are tapping into emergency savings and donating plasma to cover rent, highlighting economic distress.
- Businesses in Nevada are increasing prices, halting wage growth, and slowing down hiring. Over the past year, Nevada businesses incurred nearly $1 billion in tariff-related expenses, with small business importers bearing $183,000 of these costs.
- Since “Liberation Day,” the nation has seen a decline of 90,000 manufacturing jobs.
- While Lombardo praises Trump’s trade strategies, Nevada’s tourism sector has suffered, experiencing a decline for the 13th consecutive month and a “disastrous start to 2026” in the gaming industry.
- Las Vegas reported a 7.5% drop in visitors in 2025, equating to 3.2 million fewer visitors compared to 2024. The number of Canadian visitors, the largest group of international tourists, decreased by 20%.
- The tariffs have led to a downgrade in Nevada’s economic forecast, resulting in a $173 million shortfall in state budget revenue projections.
- Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, Lombardo was present at the White House when a new 10% global tariff was announced.
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