“Tariffs are paid by importing countries.” Americans are beginning to realize the tariff system, something that even children in Japan should know about

For years, Donald Trump told voters that foreign countries, not Americans, were paying his tariffs. Many believed him. But rising prices are now forcing a rethink.

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an editorial bluntly titled: “We Finally Know Who Pays Tariffs.” The piece noted that inflation data shows tariffs add to U.S. costs, not foreign ones.

Trump often insisted, “China is paying us, not our consumers.” His aides echoed the line, though some struggled when pressed. In one TV interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted that importers — American companies — write the checks to the U.S. government. Those costs are often passed to shoppers.

Rolling Stone quickly summed it up: “Trump’s tariffs are paid by Americans, his Treasury Secretary admits.”

Economists say tariffs work like any tax: they raise prices unless offset by higher wages. The Journal warned Republicans that ignoring the pocketbook impact could be politically risky. Shoppers at grocery stores and diners, it said, know better than campaign slogans.