MrBeast Slams Trump’s Tariffs, Says It’s Now Cheaper to Make His Chocolate Outside the U.S.

YouTube Star Warns New Global Tariffs Could Devastate Small Businesses and Push American Production Overseas

Washington DC / Los Angeles, April 9: YouTube megastar and entrepreneur MrBeast has publicly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed global tariffs, revealing that the policy shift could push his chocolate brand Feastables to shift manufacturing overseas.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, MrBeast — real name Jimmy Donaldson — shared how the new tariff regime has made it significantly more expensive to manufacture in the U.S.

“Ironically, because of all the new tariffs, it’s now way cheaper to make our chocolate bars we sell globally not in America,” he wrote. “Other countries don’t have a 20%+ tariff on our cost of goods. We already pay our farmers a living income and use fair trade certified beans. A random price hike was pretty brutal, not gonna lie.”

MrBeast, who commands a following of over 380 million subscribers on YouTube, is known not only for his viral videos and philanthropic stunts, but also for launching successful business ventures such as Feastables, MrBeast Burger, and the new kid-focused food line Lunchly.

While Feastables may survive the financial hit, he expressed concern for smaller businesses that may not have the resources to adapt. “We’ll figure it out. But I really feel for small businesses. This could be the nail in the coffin for them,” he added.

The criticism comes amid growing economic concern over Trump’s newly announced global tariffs, unveiled on April 2 during an event labeled “Liberation Day.” The tariffs, which officially go into effect on April 9, have already caused panic in global markets and triggered a significant stock market downturn.

The ripple effects are being felt beyond consumer goods. Hollywood insiders now worry that China — the world’s second-largest movie market — may retaliate by banning U.S. films, a move that could further disrupt entertainment exports. U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods currently stand at 54%, but could climb to 104% under the new policy.

As the debate over tariffs intensifies, MrBeast’s voice adds a high-profile perspective to growing concerns from entrepreneurs, creators, and consumers alike.