Since he re-took office in January, President Donald Trump has been debunking Democrat presidential myths. He quickly proved wrong Joe Biden's claim that a president can't secure the border without "comprehensive" legislation from Congress. Now, Trump is in the process of disproving Barack Obama's claim that certain industries and blue-collar jobs can't be brought back to the U.S. without a "magic wand."
Turns out, Trump is waving the tariff magic wand to great effect so far. Some manufacturing companies have already reported an uptick in production during the early months of the Trump presidency. White House Counselor Peter Navarro, in an op-ed for Fox News, explains the importance of Trump's tariffs on copper, which are aimed at restoring the industry to the U.S. where it once thrived. "Once a global leader in copper mining, refining, and manufacturing, the U.S. now faces a perilous dependence on imports," writes Navarro.
Other analysts agree. "Copper makes everything, from AI to air conditioning to refrigeration, it is what made western civilization what it is today," says Steve Abramowicz, writer and host of The Heartland Journal podcast. "Now Trump is saying if you don't want to pay the tariffs, do it here in America...and guess what? We used to be the world leader of copper manufacturing."
While many critics have complained the tariffs will raise prices, Abramowicz believes the increase in jobs, wages, and revenues coming into the country will more than offset any retail price hikes. "Trump has said if we're going to be the economic powerhouse of the universe, we need to do things here in America," he says. "And he's right...we've made a lot of money in tariffs since he took office that prior presidents didn't even know about."
"America used to run on tariffs," he continues. "We didn't have an income tax, we had tariffs, and we were a powerhouse back then too. So, good for Trump for figuring that out."
Photo: E+