Trump Economics and Minneapolis: A Conversation with Greg Johnson

The Inaugural issue of REKH MAGAZINE PAPERS, the quarterly printed think-tank of Rekh Magazine, is now out. Read the interview with the distinguished US intellectual who is among the authors of the issue's essays. The launch of VOICES FROM AMERICA, the quarterly of Rekh Magazine, also provides the occasion for some considerations about the recent Minnesota tragic shootings involving ICE forces

The back of this Issue

By Primavera Fisogni

Voices from America. A year after Donald Trump's re-election as President of the United States, it is time for an assessment — including a critical one — to understand the economic policies that are often marked by radical ruthlessness.

Greg Johnson, Ed. D., a brilliant intellectual from the East Cost of the US, who has dedicated his life to teaching, administrative management, and development projects in education, takes us into everyday life in his paper titled The Impact of President Trump’s Policies on Ordinary Americans, discussing the increases in coffee prices at Starbuck's or clothing items in the most popular chains, and the difficulties for families to cover the high costs of education. In this interview, we had the opportunity to discuss the Minneapolis shootings, one of the darkest pages of the Trump administration.

First and foremost, Dr Johnson, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your relevant paper on Trump Economics in the collected works. Could you please summarise your article in two sentences?

In the early stages of President Trump’s campaign to “Make America Great Again”, millions of US citizens are experiencing notable increases in prices associated with day-to-day living. Also, the president’s economic policies are reducing or eliminating expenditures that other administrations have deemed critically important for the common welfare.2

How have specific economic policies, such as the implementation of widespread tariffs, contributed to inflation and increased the daily living costs of the average American household?

Consumers are paying higher prices for many essential items, especially products that are heavily imported or have thin profit margins (e.g., coffee, household supplies, sewing materials).

Some analysts estimate 96% of Americans are bearing the cost of tariffs, meaning the burden is widespread and not limited to specific industries. Also, employers have become more reluctant to hire, with some delaying or freezing hiring due to uncertainty about costs and supply chains.

Historically, sharp tariff increases are a precursor to rising unemployment, and early signs of this pattern have appeared. The president has stated that tariffs would benefit American households, yet a number of economists estimate these households will pay an average of $5200 every year.

Do millions of Americans expect to lose healthcare coverage, and which specific vulnerable groups are most at risk?

Healthcare costs remain one of the top concerns for American families, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the worst years yet. Americans with employer-sponsored insurance are facing the largest premium increases in 15 years, while those with Affordable Care Act marketplace plans are bracing for the steepest premium increases since 2018. Combined with rising out-of-pocket expenses, these costs will further strain many household budgets and push comprehensive coverage out of reach for a number of American families. The Trump administration’s healthcare policies will disproportionally impact lawfully present immigrant populations, low-income Medicare enrollees, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals, and people with disabilities, by restricting eligibility, cutting funding, and removing protections. Further, women and minorities are keenly at risk as a result of reduced access to reproductive services, closures of clinics, and the removal of diversity-focused research funding.

What practical consequences will students face as a result of layoffs at the Office of Federal Student Aid, specifically regarding website outages and financial aid?

Massive 2025 layoffs and restructuring at the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Department of Education, which saw nearly 50% of staff reduced, are causing significant delays in financial aid processing, decreased borrower support, and reduced oversight. Key impacts include long, increased wait times at call centers, slower processing of student financial aid forms, reduced institutional support, and potential interruptions in student loan servicing. Specifically, the website outages have created disruptions in students’ ability to submit or complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA) form, creating uncertainty about funding for college. The loss of experienced staff is increasing the burden on college financial aid offices to troubleshoot, leading to increased burnout and reduced assistance for students.

Trump’s policies seem to have dismantled the image of the US as an inclusive democracy. This is due to the current administration's immigration orders and mass deportation efforts. Do you agree?

Yes...Trump’s immigration policies – including mass deportations, ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals/Temporary Protected Status (DACA/TPS), and restrictive asylum rules – have heavily damaged the US image of inclusivity, replacing it with a reputation for restriction and hostility. Policies like family separation and increased detention have reinforced perceptions that this “Beacon of Freedom and Justice” is, in fact, unwelcoming and xenophobic, impacting both legal and authorized immigrants.

Former President Obama recently claimed that the values on which the US is founded are in danger following the two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minnesota during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown this month. As an American, how do you feel about this? What are your feelings?

I agree with former President Obama’s assessment. Our First Amendment guarantees us the right to peaceably assemble and petition our government. Further, it gives us the right to protest in public spaces without any fear of violent reaction or response from government officials. The recent shootings in Minnesota are just tragic examples of what transpires when an administration feels it can conduct its affairs counter to safeguards afforded every American citizen in the Constitution. My initial response to the shootings was horror and outrage, along with sympathy for the families and friends of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Closely following the initial shock was the thought that it could have just as easily been I, had I been exercising my First Amendment right. In a country undergirded by the rule of law, those who break the law (whether ordinary citizens or law enforcement officials) must be held accountable for their actions. Our Constitution is being stretched and contorted in directions unimaginable by previous generations. Is it resilient enough to bring to justice individuals... or an administration responsible for these tragedies in Minnesota?

The Interviewed

J. Gregory Johnson is a retired educator and school administrator who currently lives in the United States, the state of North Carolina. His career began in the public schools, serving as a dropout prevention counselor and teaching high school English.  Additional duties in public education focused on designing professional development seminars for kindergarten through secondary level educators and administrators and serving as a program instructor for high school students visiting education sites in Washington, D.C.  As a Senior Policy Analyst with the National Education Association, Dr. Johnson designed programs to assist school districts in recruiting teachers of color.  Also, he has held positions in enrollment management in higher education - Director of Minority Student Recruitment at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina and Associate Dean of Admissions at Colby College, Waterville, Maine.  Most recently, he completed a four-year assignment at Vision International School in Al Wakrah, Qatar as Learning Support and Assessment Coordinator. His service has included local, district, state, national, and international levels.  He holds a BA in English and a MA Ed. from Western Carolina University as well as an Ed. D. in Adult Education from North Carolina State University. 

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