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July 19, 2023
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics

DeSantis Megadonor: ‘No One Believes He Believes the Vaccine Stuff… It’s Politics.’

Ron DeSantis and his team do not really believe the narrative they have constructed against Donald Trump around COVID, with one of his top financial backers telling the media the ruse is just “politics”.

“No one believes he actually believes any of the stuff about the vaccine,” said one “megadonor” on the condition of anonymity, adding: “If you talk to the non-crazy people he’s got working for him, they don’t believe it, either. It’s politics.”

The donor didn’t say who the crazies or non-crazies were, in their estimation, but told Rolling Stone they now have doubts about the DeSantis campaign having been an early, big money backer.

GOP pollsters are also questioning the wisdom of DeSantis focusing on the topic, observing it as an increasingly low priority for Republican voters amidst  inflation, crime, the economy, and America’s border crisis. The topic may also damage DeSantis by inviting scrutiny of his own pandemic record.

While the Florida Governor has claimed he would have fired Anthony Fauci in Trump’s position — with his team even circulating AI-generated images of Trump kissing the retired technocrat — questions are now being raised as to why he did not fire “Florida’s Fauci”, Dr. Alina Alonso.

The Palm Beach County health director hailed Fauci as her “patron saint,” and said her job persuading Governor DeSantis to go along with the mandates and other restrictions was “a piece of cake” compared to Fauci’s job persuading then-President Trump to do the same.

DeSantis has slumped to 14 points in a recent national poll of likely voters.

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17 minutes ago
Economy

Canada Folds, Lifts Numerous Retaliatory Tariffs Against U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Canada announced the removal of many retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, bowing to the Trump administration’s prerequisite that the duties be ended before trade talks can resume.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and a White House official.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on August 22, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

🎯IMPACT: The decision is expected to ease trade tensions and could lead to further negotiations between the two nations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

IN FULL

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday that his country would remove many of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, signaling progress in trade relations between the two nations. The announcement was made during a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario.

The tariffs, initially imposed in March, included a 25 percent levy on a wide range of U.S. products, mostly falling under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Beginning September 1, these trade duties will end, though similar tariffs imposed on Canada by the United States will remain in effect as negotiations continue. However, Canada will maintain its 25 percent tariffs on U.S. autos, steel, and aluminum.

“As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors,” Carney stated during the press conference. He also noted that President Donald J. Trump assured him in a phone call that removing tariffs would pave the way for further negotiations.

A White House official described Canada’s decision as “long overdue” and expressed optimism about continued discussions on trade and national security concerns. The announcement comes as the USMCA, negotiated during Trump’s first term, is set for review later this year.

Canada’s counter-tariffs, originally imposed by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, targeted CA$30 billion (US$21.7 billion) worth of U.S. goods. The decision to ease tariffs follows a period of heightened tensions, during which Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 percent, citing issues such as the continued flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and Canada’s lack of cooperation on the matter.

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By Popular Demand.
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57 minutes ago
Immigration

Trump Targets Comprehensive Review of All 55 MILLION Visa Holders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced plans to review the status of all 55 million foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas, initiating a “continuous vetting” process aimed at identifying security threats and individuals supporting terrorism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

🎯IMPACT: The new policy will include a “continuous vetting” process for all 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid visas in the United States.

IN FULL

The Trump administration says it will soon implement a “continuous vetting” process for all foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas. The policy, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify legal immigrants who pose security risks or are involved in activities such as supporting terrorism.

“Things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization” will serve as cause for visa revocation under the new policy, according to the State Department. The agency added: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.”

The State Department highlighted that since the beginning of Trump’s second term, it has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, compared to the same period last year. The administration has also targeted visa applicants for potential ties to anti-American or terrorist groups, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) monitoring foreign nationals participating in campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Secretary Rubio has also announced additional measures, including a halt on worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, citing concerns over road safety and the impact on American truckers. “Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio wrote on X, adding that the move was necessary to protect American lives and livelihoods.

This follows the killing of three people by an illegal immigrant truck driver in Florida.

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2 hours ago
Health
News

RFK Jr. Moves to End Dependency on China for Pharma Supplies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is taking steps to onshore the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and reduce reliance on China.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: This month, with ongoing efforts including new manufacturing partnerships in Virginia and Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on.” – John Knox

🎯IMPACT: Efforts aim to strengthen U.S. national security and reduce dependency on foreign pharmaceutical supply chains.

IN FULL

Officials at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have stated that the U.S. is taking concrete steps to reduce its reliance on foreign nations for critical drug ingredients, particularly China and India. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox said in a recent interview, “There’s a lot of levers that can be pulled and need to be used in order to bring onshoring back.”

According to Knox, 70 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key drug-making materials used in the U.S. are sourced from China and India. He noted that China alone produces about 90 percent of the world’s antibiotics. “It really is a critical national security issue at this point when we have these trade wars and economic issues going on,” he said.

The U.S. dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing stems from years of cost-cutting by major drug companies, which moved production overseas due to lower labor costs and looser regulations. As a result, China has become the world’s largest supplier of generic drug ingredients and essential medicines. Experts have long warned that any disruption in China, whether due to trade wars, natural disasters, or political tensions, could severely impact America’s access to life-saving treatments.

To address this vulnerability, President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order to expand the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR), a federal stockpile designed to secure a domestic supply of essential drug components. The White House said the move is part of a broader effort to “safeguard national health and security against global supply chain disruptions.”

Knox pointed to successful examples of domestic drug production, such as batch manufacturing facilities in Petersburg, Virginia, and rapid, on-demand pharmaceutical systems in Rockville, Maryland. “Over here at ASPR and through our IBMSC Program, we’re looking at innovative technologies [and] using that American ingenuity to create new ways to make these medications so that we’re not so dependent on foreign sources,” he said, expressing hope that future public-private partnerships will help restore U.S. pharmaceutical independence.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
UK

Britain Set for Nationwide Anti-Migration Protests This Weekend.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Multiple anti-migration protests are expected across Britain this weekend, as police also have to contend with the notoriously violent Afro-Caribbean Notting Hill Carnival in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anti-migration protesters, British police, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, the Labour Party government, and asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The protests are scheduled to take place this weekend across Britain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse. The public are right to be very angry with this government.” – Nigel Farage.

🎯IMPACT: The timing of the protests alongside the Notting Hill Carnival could stretch British police resources to their limit.

IN FULL

The United Kingdom is heading for a turbulent weekend, with demonstrations against mass migration set in numerous cities, including Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Leeds, and Perth. Anti-mass migration demonstrators and far-left pro-migration activists are expected to face off over the government’s ongoing use of taxpayer-funded hotels to house poorly vetted asylum seekers,  putting public safety at risk.

The wave of protests stems from a High Court injunction halting the use of a hotel in Epping Forest, England, to house migrants, which had also attracted protests after residents were accused of sexually assaulting local children. Further legal challenges against migrant hotels are now expected elsewhere in the country, as the government mounts its own legal efforts to overturn the Epping ruling.

The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels is estimated at over 32,000, an increase of eight percent during Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first year in office. “New figures out today show record numbers claiming asylum under Labour. Our streets are becoming more dangerous, yet this disaster only gets worse,” commented Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, adding: “The public are right to be very angry with this government.”

Notably, the protests are expected to coincide with London’s Notting Hill Carnival, a massive annual cultural event drawing over a million attendees. While championed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other diversity advocates, the Afro-Caribbean carnival always places significant pressure on police force. Last year’s carnival was marked by serious safety concerns: ten people were stabbed, two of them fatally, with police making at least 349 arrests during the event for offences ranging from drug possession to assaults on emergency workers. Sixty-one police officers were also assaulted.

The combined polcing demands of the protests, counter-protests, and carnival are raising concerns that law enforcement may struggle to maintain order this weekend.

Image by Bob Bob.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Economy

Is Jerome Powell Finally Poised to Cut Interest Rates?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled possible interest rate cuts amid ongoing economic uncertainty during his speech at the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jerome Powell, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members, and President Donald J. Trump, who has been vocal about his desire for lower rates.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Federal Reserve’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a potential interest rate cut being enacted in September.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” — Jerome Powell

🎯IMPACT: Powell’s remarks caused stocks to surge, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing over 600 points, while Treasury yields dropped significantly. Moreover, the Jackson Hole speech appears to tee up an interest rate cut at September’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

IN FULL

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addressed potential interest rate cuts during his speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole conference on Friday. He cited “sweeping changes” in tax, trade, and immigration policies as factors creating uncertainty for policymakers. Powell noted that while the labor market ostensibly remains strong, data suggest employment could be weakening and this may necessitate a change in the Fed’s interest rate policy.

“[W]ith policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Powell said. Although he stopped short of explicitly endorsing a rate cut, Wall Street interpreted his comments as a sign of potential easing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 600 points following the speech, and the two-year Treasury note yield dropped by 0.08 percentage points.

Powell emphasized the independence of the Federal Reserve from elected officials, stating, “FOMC members will make these decisions, based solely on their assessment of the data and its implications for the economic outlook and the balance of risks. We will never deviate from that approach.” This comes amidst pressure from President Donald J. Trump, who has repeatedly called for aggressive rate cuts.

The Fed has maintained its benchmark borrowing rate between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent since December, citing uncertainty over the long-term impact of tariffs on inflation. Powell expressed that while tariff impacts may be “short-lived,” current economic conditions allow the Fed to proceed cautiously.

Importantly, the Fed chairman finally acknowledged that the central bank’s current rate policy could be hampering employment. “This slowdown is much larger than assessed just a month ago, as the earlier figures for May and June were revised down substantially,” Powell said, with the caveat: “But it does not appear that the slowdown in job growth has opened up a large margin of slack in the labor market—an outcome we want to avoid.”

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Crime

Biden Judge Frees Teens Accused of Brutal Assault on Ex-DOGE Staffer ‘Big Balls.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two teens charged with attempted carjacking and assaulting former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released by a Joe Biden-appointed judge.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 15-year-old boy and girl from Maryland, Judge Kendra D. Biggs, prosecutors, and Coristine.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was made in Washington, D.C. in August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it.” – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked backlash amid rising juvenile crime in D.C.

IN FULL

The two Maryland teens charged with an attempted carjacking and assaulting software engineer and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saffer Edward “Big Balls” Coristine have been released under the orders of Joe Biden-appointed Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Kendra D. Biggs. The teens, aged 15, were previously held at D.C.’s Youth Services Center but have now been placed in alternative settings—a youth shelter for the girl and the custody of his mother for the boy.

Judge Biggs ordered a 24-hour curfew for the teens, allowing them to attend school and electronic monitoring. During the hearing, the teens’ parents confirmed their school enrollments, though the judge acknowledged that the girl had “major truancy issues” and had previously been reported missing from home.

The incident comes amid a surge in juvenile crime in Washington, D.C., with 56 percent of carjackings since 2023 attributed to minors, some as young as 12. Following the attack on Coristine, President Donald J. Trump federalized the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to restore order. These measures have led to notable improvements in crime levels, including the first homicide-free week in the District since March.

Critics of the leniency shown to juvenile offenders, such as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, have spoken out. “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it,” she said.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Rubio Halts Truck Driver Visas After Illegal Kills Three.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on worker visas for commercial drivers after an illegal immigrant trucker allegedly caused a fatal crash in Florida.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marco Rubio, Harjinder Singh, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida. Singh was extradited from California; investigations span multiple states.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The move highlights concerns over public safety and the legality of commercial driver licensing for foreign workers.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that foreign worker visas for commercial drivers would be paused “effective immediately.” The move follows a deadly incident where an illegal immigrant truck driver engaged in an unlawful U-turn, causing a crash that killed three people in Florida. Rubio cited public safety concerns as the primary reason for the decision.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” the Secretary of State wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday.

The fatal crash involved Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant driving a commercial truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce. Authorities say Singh attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area, causing the trailer to jackknife and collide with a minivan, killing all three passengers inside. Investigations revealed that Singh had not passed English or road tests before obtaining a commercial driver’s license, answering only two of 12 questions correctly in an English Language Proficiency test, and misidentifying three of four road traffic signs.

Singh was granted a full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington in July 2023, despite not being legally eligible. He also held a limited-term commercial driver’s license in California in 2024.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have since engaged in a dispute over Singh’s licensing, with Newsom’s office falsely claiming Singh obtained a work permit during President Donald J. Trump‘s first term. However, DHS has clarified that Singh was denied in September 2020 under Trump but granted a permit in June 2021 under the Biden government.

“Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” commented DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, adding: “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public?

Singh has been extradited to Florida from California and faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
TECH

Elon Musk, X Settle Lawsuit with Former Twitter Employees.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk and his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have reached a tentative settlement with former employees who sued for $500 million in severance pay.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter), and former employees led by Courtney McMillian.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The settlement was reported on Wednesday in a court filing in San Francisco.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The parties have reached a settlement agreement in principle and began negotiating the terms of a long form settlement agreement,” according to court documents.

🎯IMPACT: The settlement, once finalized, could resolve disputes over severance pay for approximately 6,000 former employees.

IN FULL

Elon Musk and his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have tentatively settled a lawsuit with former employees seeking $500 million in severance payments. On Wednesday, a court filing showed that both sides asked a San Francisco U.S. appeals court to postpone an upcoming hearing to finalize the settlement documents.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by ex-Twitter employee Courtney McMillian, alleges that around 6,000 workers were denied benefits outlined in the company’s severance plan. Employees claimed the company offered some of them only one month’s severance pay at most, while others received none, despite promises of up to six months’ salary.

According to court filings, “the parties have reached a settlement agreement in principle and began negotiating the terms of a long form settlement agreement.” The settlement’s specifics remain undisclosed and await court approval.

The layoffs at Twitter followed Musk’s 2022 acquisition of the company, part of aggressive cost-cutting that slashed over half the workforce. This move preceded a broader tech industry trend, with companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft also cutting thousands of jobs over the following years.

Musk is known for using significant workforce reductions to lower costs. He attempted similar reforms to the federal workforce at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the early months of the Trump administration, albeit with limited success.

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5 hours ago
NatSec
News

FBI Raids John Bolton’s Home in Patel-Led National Security Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents raided the home of former national security adviser John Bolton in Bethesda, Maryland, as part of a national security probe involving classified documents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: John Bolton, FBI agents, FBI Director Kash Patel, and senior U.S. officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday morning, August 22, 2025, at Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “NO ONE is above the law… [FBI] agents on mission.” – Kash Patel

🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration is stepping up its probes into the misuse of classified documents and the politicization of federal investigations.

IN FULL

Early on Friday, August 22, 2025, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents executed a high-profile raid at the Bethesda, Maryland, residence of former National Security Adviser John Bolton. The operation began around 7 AM, reportedly under the direction of FBI Director Kash Patel.

The FBI head posted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the raid commenced: “NO ONE is above the law… [FBI] agents on mission.” The investigation centers on alleged mishandling or retention of classified documents, a probe initially launched during the first Trump administration but, according to a senior U.S. official, later halted by the Biden administration “for political reasons.” It has been revived since Trump’s return to office in January.

Bolton, a longtime neoconservative, previously faced legal scrutiny for his 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened. The Justice Department initiated an inquiry alleging that the book included classified content, in violation of a nondisclosure agreement signed during his tenure.

Bolton’s pro-war positions on Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, and regime‑change policies often placed him at odds with Trump, whose preference for deal-making and peace clashed with Bolton’s hawkish worldview. When Trump publicly canceled an airstrike on Iran during his first administration, reports indicated that Bolton was “devastated.” Similarly, Trump excluded him from key diplomatic moments, like summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and discussions about Afghanistan peace talks, due to fears that Bolton would leak internal disagreements.

Eventually, the relationship frayed to the point where Trump posted on social media that Bolton’s services were “no longer needed.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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7 hours ago
News

New Trump White House Art Honors America’s ‘Tariff Men.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new framed meme featuring “Tariff Men” has been placed in the West Wing of the White House.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The image includes Alexander Hamilton, Henry Clay, Donald J. Trump, Abraham Lincoln, and William McKinley.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The meme was placed in the West Wing as of Wednesday, August 20th.

💬KEY QUOTE: “….I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so.” – Donald J. Trump, 2018.

🎯IMPACT: The meme underscores the historical and ongoing significance of tariffs in American economic policy.

IN FULL

A new framed meme has been placed in the West Wing of the White House, featuring prominent figures known as “Tariff Men.” This gold-framed image includes historical and modern advocates of tariffs.

Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Treasury Secretary, is depicted on the far left. He was instrumental in establishing the nation’s financial system and supported protective tariffs to boost American industry.

Next to him is Henry Clay, a Senator and Congressman known as the “Great Compromiser.” Clay was a major supporter of the American System, which heavily relied on tariffs to promote domestic manufacturing.

Donald J. Trump is prominently placed at the center, highlighting his presidency’s focus on tariffs, particularly in trade disputes with China. In 2018, Trump tweeted about his stance, stating, “….I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so.”

Abraham Lincoln, who supported the Morrill Tariff to protect Northern industry and fund the Civil War, and William McKinley, known for the McKinley Tariff, are also featured. The image serves as a reminder of the historical importance of tariffs in U.S. economic policy.

White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Dr. Peter Navarro posted the following video foreshadowing the new West Wing imagery on August 13th, explaining its relevance:

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