A Transformational Presidency
President Trump is the political Colossus of our time.
Bret Humes
Obama said he wanted to fundamentally transform America, and he almost succeeded in his third term in the Dark Brandon presidency. “Hope and Change” was Obama’s euphemism. President Trump’s “common sense” is not a slogan. It is the opposite of the destruction we’ve experienced in the last four years. Trump’s approach is an America-first policy along with governmental reforms and elimination of waste and fraud identified by DOGE.
Trump’s pace of reforms is unprecedented and breathtaking. His use of executive orders to keep the zone flooded – to use the football analogy – has kept the Democrats and their media toadies off guard. It’s like the arcade game “Whack-a-mole.” By the time Democrats move to counter a Trump action, he’s moved on to the next policy reform.
The latest brouhaha is Trump’s use of tariffs to promote his America-first agenda. His goal is to bring manufacturing and businesses back to America, which were lost when companies left seeking cheap foreign labor. We are now paying the price because, as an example, more than 90% of our antibiotics are now produced in countries like India, China, Vietnam, etc. This is a national security issue, just like having secure supply chains is vital. Critical materials like rare earth elements are produced elsewhere in sometimes hostile countries like China. I’ve read that more than 90% of advanced computer chips are produced in Taiwan, a country threatened by China.
Mercantilism is a nationalistic policy used by governments to maximize exports and minimize imports. The goal is to prevent trade imbalance and promote prosperity within a nation. The policy was used extensively in Europe from the 15th to 18th century to protect national manufacturing and markets. Historic mercantilism was mercenary.
I am no expert, but Trump is using tariffs in three ways.
1) Level the playing field in international trading (example Canada) rather than a scheme to promote the economic dominance of historic mercantilists
2) Discourage the behavior of, for instance, China, who sells materials for the production of fentanyl to Mexican cartels who make illicit drugs that kill Americans
3) As a tax to encourage businesses and jobs to return to America (Remember, there is no tariff tax if you buy American).
Making America prosperous again is not a zero-sum game where the world fights over limited slices of a pie. President Trump is happy to “grow the pie” where everyone is prosperous but not at America’s expense.
There will be some short-term downsides. The Democrat economy was driven by government subsidies, handouts and inflationary printing of money. As we transition, we can expect a period of “detox” as we give up the government nostrum.
Our multi-tasking president realizes we are spending our way to destruction. The government collected $4.9 trillion in 2024 but spent $7.4 trillion. We have a spending problem rather than a revenue issue. Bringing businesses and jobs back to America, deregulation, balancing our trade imbalances with other countries and eliminating fraud, waste and corruption will certainly help, but we need to stop ruinous, profligate government spending. We must tighten our belts or the country will go down in economic flames. The famous economist Milton Freeman said that “all debts are paid,” and they eventually will be, but now it must be sooner than later. Either we get our economic affairs in order or the country will be destroyed along with our children’s future.
Trump gets it and he operates without political concerns because he is not running again. Last week, Trump used his power to promote the far-from-perfect House Continuing Resolution (CR), which was passed. Next, it must be passed by the Senate to prevent a government shutdown. The CR is a bridge to the more important upcoming budget, Congressional Reconciliation. At this writing, Schumer and the Senate Democrats vow to vote against the CR and shut down the government, something they have always said was apocalyptic.
And this brings me to the third controversy of the week. How can a group of people be so wrong about everything and yet persist in their delusions? Of course, I’m talking about the Democrat party, which is opposed to common sense due to their perverse hatred of President Trump. During his congressional address, Trump acknowledged there was nothing he could do to “make Democrats happy.” Their sour expressions as they sat on their hands, occasionally waving their ridiculous paddle signs and refusing to honor a thirteen-year-old with brain cancer, proves their souls are lost to hatred. The Democrat congressional women were dressed in pink, but do not support women in sports nor can they even define a woman. And their post address “fight, fight, fight” video was pathetic.
The Democrats have no leader or plan except “resistance” to Trump with inane singing protests or screaming profanity. And their obstinate support of trans surgery for children, criminal aliens and foreign agitators, as well as refusing to protect women in private spaces is depraved.
Meanwhile, Trump is brokering a ceasefire in Ukraine, but this will not make Democrats happy. Nonetheless, our transformational president is challenging Europe to provide for their own defense and not depend on the U.S. to be the world’s policeman. Does anyone believe that the 29 Frenemies of NATO would come to our aid if we are attacked? Trump is pivoting away from Europe to the Americas and the Pacific rim to counter China.
The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu wrote the “Art of War,” which includes strategies for battle and conquest. However, “Supreme excellence is subduing your enemy without battle.” In other words, winning without fighting a traditional war. It is obvious to me that China is now our major adversary and Trump understands this. It is troubling that China, Russia and North Korea have recently aligned as the world is distracted by the endless conflicts in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. I believe Trump prefers an economic battle with communists rather than a shooting war. The world needs to trade with the United States because we are the largest market in the world.
In the final analysis, I trust Trump on tariffs, government reforms, overseeing the work of DOGE, negotiations with foreign governments, countering the destructive policies of Democrats, and Making America Great Again. After all, Trump has been right about almost everything, whereas the Democrats, the media and the experts have been wrong on just about everything.
