Making America Great Again — But for Who?

People are so busy either praising or criticizing Trumps individual policies that we don't see the bigger picture so I wanted to take a look at his two presidencies, who he has made America Great for and who is worse off.  The overall picture did not surprise me the depth and contrast did.  

Donald Trump loves to say he “made America great again.” But let’s be honest, great for who?  If you’re sitting on millions in stock, own a few companies, or cash seven-figure checks, you probably benefited financially.

If you’re working two jobs, living on Social Security, or trying to get by on disability benefits, his promise apparently did not include you.

How the Wealthy and Corporations Won Big

Trump’s signature move was his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, followed by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) — both sold as middle-class relief. In reality, they were a financial jackpot for the wealthy and big business.

• The corporate tax rate dropped permanently from 35% to 21%, saving the largest companies billions every year.

• CEOs and shareholders pocketed the difference, much of it through stock buybacks and record bonuses, while worker wages barely moved.

• The estate tax threshold doubled, so the super-rich can pass on their fortunes practically untouched.

• Real estate developers and high-income business owners gained from a 20% deduction on “pass-through” income, a break that Trump’s own companies qualified for.

• The 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” locked in those cuts and raised the cap on state and local tax deductions, another windfall mostly for upper-income households.

Meanwhile, these policies added trillions in new debt, setting up the next round of fights over “spending cuts”  code for trimming Social Security, Medicare, and safety-net programs regular people rely on.

The Middle Class: Temporary Relief, Lasting Risk

Yes, middle-income Americans saw a small tax break, but it was temporary, set to expire after 2025, while corporate cuts are permanent.  Inflation and rising costs quickly ate away whatever savings working families saw in their paychecks.

For millions, it was like being handed a one-time coupon while billionaires got the keys to the store.

The Poor, Elderly, and Disabled: Left Behind

If you depend on help to eat, stay warm, or afford your medicine, Trump’s “greatness” didn’t reach you.  His budgets repeatedly targeted:

• SNAP (food stamps) — with proposed cuts and stricter eligibility rules.

• Affordable Care Act subsidies — which he tried to defund and as of this writing has successfully done that, making coverage up to 3X costlier than last year.

• LIHEAP (energy assistance) — marked for elimination several times.  In 2025 the budget was 4.1 billion.  The 2026 proposed budget is $0 and much of the staff has been fired.  

• HUD housing aid — proposed reductions in funding and rent assistance.  The budget for 2025 was 89 billion while the President is proposing 43.5 billion.  The non-discretionary funding will drop to 33.3 billion, a 59% drop.  This has not been passed yet and the Senate and Congress may override the president.

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — threatened through tighter rules and review processes.  Trump’s proposed changes to SSDI would make it harder for new applicants, especially older or blue-collar workers to qualify. The rules would tighten medical and work-eligibility standards, count fewer factors like age, and speed up reviews that could lead to more denials and delays.

For people living paycheck to paycheck or those who can’t work due to age or disability these are not just numbers on a budget sheet, they are the difference between surviving and falling through the cracks.

The Big Picture: A Tale of Two Americas

Trump’s policies draw a line straight through the country:

• The wealthy and corporations: permanent cuts, surging profits, stock market windfalls.

• Everyone else: short-term relief, higher debt, and looming cuts to services they depend on.

He called it making America great again, but the greatness was built on the backs of working people, the poor, and the elderly, while the rich got richer.

What it means to you

If your success is measured by stock portfolios, tax shelters, and luxury developments, Trump’s America has been a dream.  If you’re trying to afford groceries, pay medical bills, or keep the heat on, you'll be facing a new reality, one of lower government support and increased poverty.

“Making America Great Again” sounded good on a hat, but in practice, it became a slogan for prosperity at the top and struggle everywhere else.

What you can do about it

If you are in the top 10% of American's and this is the kind of America you want, continue to support your candidates.  If you are one of the 90% in the middle class or below you can still change things.  We have the vote and last time I took math 90 was greater than 10 so register to vote.  You can also call your senators or congressmen.  Trump has disconnected the White House number while the shutdown is in place but the Capital switchboard is still open with real people answering!

Call the White House: 202-456-1414. (10.25.2025 Disconnected due to federal funding impasse!)
Call your U.S. Senators and Representatives: 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard — they’ll connect you directly). (10.29.2025 The Senators and House of Representatives are still taking calls)