When Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on America’s trading partners, his administration branded them a “lifeline for the middle class.” Supporters claimed tariffs would protect U.S. jobs and industries. But years later, the reality is undeniable: higher consumer prices, disrupted supply chains, lost export markets, and taxpayer-funded bailouts. The latest example came in December 2025, when Trump announced a new $12 billion bailout for farmers. The aid, scheduled to begin distribution in February 2026, is intended to offset losses from retaliatory tariffs that slashed demand for U.S. crops such as soybeans, corn, wheat, and pork. This bailout was not triggered … Continue reading Trump’s Tariffs, America’s Bailout

In a Newsweek opinion piece dated September 11, 2024, tariffs were branded a “lifeline for the middle class.” But this wasn’t economic analysis—it was political spin. The claim came from Kenneth Rapoza, a trade lobbyist writing under Newsweek’s opinion banner, not its editorial board. His framing ignored overwhelming evidence of consumer harm, job losses, and supply-chain disruption. By presenting tariffs as salvation, the piece misled readers and distorted the economic reality facing millions of American families. Tariffs didn’t rescue the middle class—they drained it.This is economic gaslighting. When U.S. businesses import goods, they pay tariffs—but they don’t absorb those costs. … Continue reading Tariffs Aren’t a Lifeline. They’re a Landmine.

President Donald Trump’s second term has unleashed a wave of aggressive trade deals and industrial interventions aimed at reviving American manufacturing. From billion-dollar equity stakes in companies like Intel to sweeping tariffs on foreign goods, the administration is reshaping the U.S. economic landscape. But while some sectors are seeing short-term gains, the long-term consequences are hitting hardest where resilience runs deepest—in the homes, fields, and factories of working Americans. In early 2025, the U.S. added 10,000 manufacturing jobs, with the auto sector leading the charge. Foreign investment surged, with Japan, South Korea, and the EU pledging over $1.3 trillion in … Continue reading Tariffs, Bailouts, and Broken Promises: The Real Cost of Trump’s Economic Playbook

WASHINGTON —“Unfair trade is over,” declared former President Donald Trump. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent backed him up, branding their chaotic approach as “maximum leverage.” But behind the sound bites and slogan-stuffed declarations, there’s no strategic achievement—just a patchwork of tariff threats, broken negotiations, and diplomatic damage. The truth? What they’ve ended isn’t unfair trade. It’s credibility. Since Trump’s self-declared “Liberation Day” in April, the administration has reversed its own positions more than 28 times. These shifts have been so erratic that they’ve destabilized both allies and adversaries. Brazil’s tariff spike had nothing to do with economic misconduct—it was politically motivated … Continue reading Trump and Bessent’s Trade Circus: All Tariffs, No Strategy