Mr. Beast Sounds Off on Trump’s Tariffs: A Dire Warning for Small Businesses
Mr. Beast has emerged as one of the first prominent entertainment figures to voice concerns about President Trump’s recent tariff increases.
The well-known YouTuber and host of the popular Amazon series Beast Games criticized the president’s “Liberation Day” policies, which experts warn could lead to higher inflation, stunted business growth, reduced hiring, and a significant risk of recession. These tariffs have also resulted in substantial losses in the stock market, affecting retirement savings.
In a post on X, Mr. Beast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, referenced his Feastables chocolate bar business, stating, “Ironically, due to the new tariffs, it is now significantly cheaper to produce our chocolate bars for global sales outside of America, as other countries do not impose a 20%+ tariff on our costs. [By the way,] we pay our farmers a living income, use fair trade certified beans, etc. So I was already investing heavily in cocoa. A random price hike was pretty brutal [not gonna lie]. We’ll figure it out. I feel for small businesses though. This could really be a nail in the coffin for them.”
Small businesses, which account for nearly half of all private-sector employment in the U.S., are particularly susceptible to tariff increases. They typically lack the deep cash reserves or flexibility needed to absorb sudden financial changes.
Beyond his YouTube empire, Mr. Beast operates various businesses, including the MrBeast Burger delivery restaurant chain, a packaged food brand called Lunchly, a social media analytics platform named Viewstats, and an active philanthropy LLC.
Numerous economists, business leaders, and influential figures have also criticized the tariffs. Notable Trump supporters such as Dave Portnoy, billionaire Elon Musk (who labeled Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron”), and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman (who cautioned that “we are in the process of destroying confidence in our country as a trading partner, as a place to do business, and as a market to invest capital”) have raised their voices against these policies.
Hollywood has not yet faced direct retaliation from countries affected by the tariffs. However, with a steep 104 percent tariff against China set to take effect, the world’s second-largest film market may soon impose restrictions on Hollywood films.
Reports indicate that two prominent Chinese public figures—one an editor for a state media outlet and the other the son of a former party chief—released identical outlines detailing potential countermeasures that Chinese authorities are considering in response to Trump’s tariffs. These measures could include “reducing or banning the import of U.S. films” as well as increasing tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and services, among other actions.
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