Trump's policies threaten New York City's economy and public safety

President Trump's policies have already hurt New York City and may worsen its economic and public safety issues. The city's economy has recovered from the pandemic, but Trump's trade war is weakening growth, with businesses adding only 956 private-sector jobs in the first half of the year. International tourism is expected to fall by 17% this year, driven by Canadians staying home. Trump's immigration policies may also hinder New York City's affordability agenda.

President Donald Trump's policies are already having a significant impact on New York City, potentially undermining its economic recovery and public safety. While the city has shown resilience, bouncing back from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump's policies are weakening its economic growth and creating challenges for its affordability agenda.

The city's economy, which had lost 23% of its jobs during March and April 2020, has since recovered, with roughly 200,000 more jobs than pre-pandemic levels [1]. However, the Trump administration's trade war is slowing down this recovery. New York City's businesses added only 956 private-sector jobs in the first half of 2025, the slowest growth outside a recession in decades [1].

International tourism, a significant contributor to New York City's economy, is also being negatively impacted. Trump's policies, including threats to annex Canada, have led to a 17% decrease in international tourism expected this year, with Canadian visitors staying home [1].

Trump's immigration policies are further exacerbating these issues. The city's economy relies heavily on undocumented immigrants, particularly in sectors such as food service, construction, and home health care. According to the New School, the labor force participation rate among Hispanic men, a target of Trump's deportation efforts, has dropped 3.6 percentage points since the third quarter of 2024 [1].

Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted last month, also poses a significant threat to the city's financial stability. The bill is expected to result in 1.5 million New Yorkers losing health insurance coverage, 300,000 households losing SNAP benefits, and $13 billion in cuts to the city's health care system [1]. Additionally, New York State faces a $34 billion budget deficit, the largest since the 2008 financial crisis, due to federal spending cuts and a softening economy [1].

These challenges may hinder the affordability agenda of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic socialist favored to become New York City's next mayor. Mamdani's plans to make the city more affordable include freezing rents, making public buses free, and building affordable housing units. However, a weaker economy and reduced federal funding may make it difficult for him to enact these policies [1].

In conclusion, President Trump's policies are creating significant challenges for New York City's economy and public safety. The city's economic recovery is being slowed down by the trade war, and its international tourism is being negatively impacted. Additionally, the city's reliance on undocumented immigrants is being threatened by Trump's immigration policies, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act poses a significant threat to the city's financial stability. These challenges may hinder the affordability agenda of the city's next mayor.

References:
[1] CNN. (2025, August 15). Trump New York City Mamdani. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/15/business/trump-new-york-city-mamdani