Glenn Youngkin Dismisses Economic Pain Trump is Causing Virginians, Justifying Attacks on Workforce

From DPVA:

Glenn Youngkin Dismisses Economic Pain Trump is Causing Virginians, Justifying Attacks on Workforce

Republican Nominee Winsome Earle-Sears refused to comment

This week, following alarming reports from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showing the sharpest economic downturn since the pandemic, and a forecast from the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center predicting the loss of over 30,000 jobs across the Commonwealth due to Trump’s mass firings, Governor Glenn Youngkin downplayed the real economic hardship facing Virginians.

Rather than attempting to save Virginia’s jobs or even acknowledge the thousands of families affected by job losses or at risk of losing their livelihoods, Youngkin dismissed them, saying that other sources of revenue will “offset” job losses.

“Governor Youngkin’s response is as callous as it is out of touch,” said DPVA Chairman Lamont Bagby. “Virginia families are fearing for their livelihoods, struggling with rising costs, and watching their economic security slip away — and instead of offering solutions, Youngkin is blatantly dismissing their pain. It’s clear he’s more focused on defending Donald Trump’s failed economic agenda than protecting the livelihoods of the Virginians he was elected to serve.”

Radio IQ/WVTF: New reports suggest U.S., Virginia economies are slowing

By: Brad Kutner

• “Virginia’s economy is on track to contract by the end of 2025, and new numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed the U.S. economy declined in the first quarter of 2025. That’s according to a pair of new reports released this week.”
• “Here’s economist Eric Scorsone with the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center speaking to a quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth the center released this week.”
• “‘We project the state of Virginia to lose about 30,000 jobs over the course of 2025 primarily due to federal government cuts,’ Scorsone said.”
• “If the job losses come to pass, that would put Virginia in a mild recession.”
• “[…] Governor Glenn Youngkin shrugged off the bad news. In a statement sent to Radio IQ Wednesday, his office said, ‘Virginia’s economy remains strong,’ and pointed to a likely increase in military spending that would offset federal job losses in the Commonwealth.”
• “[…] As for President Donald Trump, he took to social media early Wednesday to blame the bad economic news on former President Joe Biden saying, ‘tariffs will soon start to kick in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers.’”
• “Virginia Beach Democratic Delegate Alex Askew was less thrilled at the idea of more tariffs. He said they’d likely increase costs for Virginians.”
• “‘Every dollar spent on higher prices is a dollar not spent at local restaurants, local daycare or a local small business trying to survive,’ Askew warned.”
• “Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger was similarly less optimistic about Trump’s tariff plans.”
• “‘Virginia’s leaders have a fundamental responsibility to put Virginia first — not swear an unfaltering allegiance to DOGE and President Trump at the expense of Virginia’s economic strength,’ a spokesperson for her campaign told Radio IQ. ‘Virginians deserve a governor who will always put them first.’”
• “Requests for comment on both reports sent to Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl-Seares were not returned.”