Who really wins in U.S. tariff policy?

Editor's note: In response to the U.S.'s deep divide between government decisions and public opinion, further intensifying internal tensions and social fragmentation, CGTN's First Voice presents "A Fractured America II," an animated video series. The second episode focuses on the imbalance under U.S. tariff policies, where the elite reap the benefits while ordinary citizens are forced to bear the costs.

Eggs, one of the most basic everyday food items, have now become a source of anxiety for ordinary Americans. From January to March, the average price of a dozen eggs rose to $6.23, an increase of about 26 percent. Meanwhile, imports that could have helped ease egg prices were hindered by tariff policies.

With supply tight and high prices, many Americans began driving to Mexico to buy eggs. After all, a 30-pack of eggs in Mexico costs only $5. The months-long "egg shortage" has led to a spike in egg smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to forecasts by the Budget Lab at Yale, in addition to eggs, the price of clothing, agricultural products, woolen goods and electronics are expected to rise by at least 10 percent, sharply increasing the cost of living for many.

The U.S. government, which is supposed to safeguard the well-being of its people, has looked the other way. Instead, it's preoccupied with policymaking, without considering whether these policies truly benefit ordinary citizens.

The public's struggles are starkly contrasted by the frenzy on Wall Street. It's as if the world were a different place.

On April 9, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day suspension of tariffs on most countries, triggering a sharp rally in the stock market. Just hours before the announcement, Trump posted a message on social media: "This is a great time to buy." But whose interests was he really promoting?

That very day, Trump Media and Technology Group, owned by Trump, saw its stock rise at twice the pace of the broader market, boosting the value of his personal stake by $415 million. Meanwhile, officials closely tied to Trump, such as Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia and Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan from Pennsylvania, were also actively trading stocks, raking in enormous profits.

But can such "too well-timed" trades be dismissed as mere coincidence? These events have sparked public concern over whether Trump manipulated the market or engaged in insider trading.

Today, the U.S. appears more divided than ever. The elite live comfortably, while the hardships of the average citizen are ignored. The U.S., once a land of dreams, is now a place where dreams are broken, shattered by the very failure of its own governance. What lies ahead for the future of this nation?

This is not one nation. These are shattered Americas.

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