Facts around the balance of imports and exports under President Trump and his tariffs can seem impossibly contradictory.

"Imports were down and exports were up.”

Trump also has vowed to bring some of China’s human rights abuses back into the spotlight, with the imprisonment of political prisoners. The president has vowed to address the imprisonment of high-profile individuals, including Ezra Jin Mingri, a Christian pastor; Hong Kong political activist Jimmy Lai; and Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur doctor.

President Trump’s tariffs aren’t working as advertised. Taxes on imports can’t shrink the trade deficit, significantly boost U.S. manufacturing or improve the lot of most ordinary Americans. At the macro level,

President Trump said he would balance the federal budget "overnight." In reality, debt is now approaching the highest level in U.S. history.

Both exports and imports rose after the Supreme Court struck down many of the president’s highest levies in February.

Our first quarterly update of various economic and social indicators under Trump's second term as president. The post Trump’s Numbers, April 2026 Update appeared first on FactCheck.org.

The president aims to cut federal jobs and health spending, while extending tax breaks and boosting military outlays.