In 2026, Rick Jackson praised Trump's tariffs and his business decisions, touting that Trump inspired Jackson to run for governor. Jackson even touted how Trump’s tariffs and tax cuts were growing his wealth. Jackson said he bought stocks when the stock market crashed in April 2025 due to Trump’s tariffs and celebrated making a “80% return in four weeks.” Trump’s tariffs were dooming Georgia’s ranking as 7th in the nation for net exports and harming the state’s key industries of agriculture, automotive manufacturing, construction, and port logistics. Additionally, two-thirds of Georgians believed the tariffs would cause their everyday costs to increase.
April 2026: Jackson Praised Trump’s Tariff Policies, Claiming He “Believe[d] In Fairness” And Did Not Want “Want Somebody To Take Advantage Of Us In A Business Transaction.” According to Fox News, “Jackson has also drawn himself closer to Trump by praising his tariff policies. ‘I believe in fairness,’ Jackson said in March. ‘Don't want somebody to take advantage of us in a business transaction. That's what he's trying to do. So I support.’” [Fox News, 4/27/26]
April 2026: Jackson Said Trump Inspired Him To Run For Governor, Lauded Trump’s Business Decisions As “Unbelievable,” And Said He Would Run The State Of Georgia Like Trump Ran The Federal Government. According to Rick Jackson’s interview on the Scott Jennings Podcast, "JENNINGS: Rick, welcome to the Scott Jennings show. Great to have you with us. I want to start here. You entered the race only back in February. What inspired you to run for governor of Georgia? JACKSON: Well, President Trump inspired me. What he is doing from a business standpoint is just unbelievable. I’ve interacted several times with the Trump administration on business issues. And I just thought that to have somebody running the state of Georgia like he does, the federal government would really be very productive and really work. So that's why I decided to run." [Rick Jackson Interview – Scott Jennings Podcast, 4/20/26] (VIDEO)
March 6, 2026: During A Meet-And-Greet In Thomasville, Rick Jackson “Celebrated How Tariffs And Tax Cuts Are Growing His Wealth.” According to the American Journal-News, “Rick Jackson, a Republican candidate for Georgia governor, celebrated how tariffs and tax cuts are growing his wealth, even as those same policies push working people into poverty. Jackson is the billionaire founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, a medical staffing company based in Alpharetta. He launched his campaign last month. He made the remarks during a March 6 meet-and-greet in Thomasville when a voter asked for his opinion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), a GOP-backed law that will cut $1 trillion from Medicaid, primarily to fund tax breaks for wealthy people and big corporations. ‘We extended the tax deductions, which are good,’ Jackson said. ‘If [Trump] hadn’t passed it—I’ll be honest with you—I’d be paying 40% more in taxes right now. I’d rather that money go to nonprofits than the federal government, so I like that part.’” [American Journal-News, 3/20/26]
Rick Jackson Touted Buying Stocks When The Stock Market Crashed In April 2025 Due To Trump’s Tariffs And Touted Making An “80% Return In Four Weeks.” According to the American Journal-News, “Jackson boasted at the same March 6 event about the positive effect President Donald Trump’s tariff policy had on his stock portfolio. ‘The stock market went down last April when Trump announced [tariffs],’ Jackson said. ‘I went and bought options on the day that happened because I knew that was crazy and made an 80% return in four weeks.’” [American Journal-News, 3/20/26]
2024: The Georgia Chamber Of Commerce Reported That Georgia Was “Especially Vulnerable” To Trump’s Tariffs Because The State Ranked 7th Nationally For Net Exports, Exporting $53.1 Billion In Goods And Importing $145.6 Billion. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, “With a robust global trade profile, Georgia is especially vulnerable to the fallout, according to a report from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In 2024, the state set records with $53.1 billion in exports and $145.6 billion in imports, ranking 7th nationally for net exports. Georgia’s goods reached nearly 300 global markets. To help businesses prepare, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce released a comprehensive analysis titled ‘Tariffs Briefing: April 2025 – New U.S. Tariffs + Potential Georgia Impact.’ The report outlines specific threats to agriculture, automotive manufacturing, construction, and port logistics.” [FOX 5 Atlanta, 4/8/25]
Trump’s Tariffs Threatened Georgia’s Agricultural Industry, Which Produced “Far More Than The Local Market Demands,” And Relied On Exports To Other Countries, With A “Significant Share” Going To China. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “And Savannah’s booming ports are bracing for a slowdown as tariff threats and other business headwinds exact a toll on global shipping. Georgia imports more from China than from any other country, although the share of Chinese goods coming through the Savannah port is shrinking. Few sectors are more vulnerable than agriculture, Georgia’s largest industry. State farmers produce far more than the local market demands, and much of that is shipped overseas. A significant share goes to China, the epicenter of the trade battle.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/18/25]
April 2025 Morning Consult Survey: More Than Two-Thirds Of Georgia Voters Believed Tariffs Would “Push Up Prices On Everyday Goods,” And A Majority Said They Were “Already Cutting Back On Spending, Avoiding Big Purchases, Or Stocking Up Before Price Hikes Hit.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “And economic anxiety is already showing up in polling. A Morning Consult survey released this month found more than two-thirds of Georgia voters believe tariffs will push up prices on everyday goods. A majority say they are already cutting back on spending, avoiding big purchases or stocking up before price hikes hit.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/18/25]