Kamala Harris, formerly known as Vice President, recently surfaced back into the public eye after disappearing in the wake of her electoral failure last November. It was a momentary glimpse, brief and fleeting, as evidenced by the rapid response account specifically created for her unsuccessful Presidential campaign. This account, in an overtly futile and sour-grapes manner, attempted shots at the economy under the Trump administration.
True to its partisan nature, the account disembarked on a quest to criticize every economic policy of the Trump era. But, much like Harris’s own plummeting political trajectory, these posts too were soon deleted. Perhaps, it was the realization that the economic growth experienced during Trump’s tenure was too formidable a bulwark to assail.
It’s no secret that former President Trump did not shy away from discourses on the economy, an arena where he was a seasoned veteran. Unlike traditional politicians, Trump never sugarcoated the reality for businesses dealing with financial fluctuations in the volatile landscape of trade tariffs. His honesty and transparency concerning such potential business concerns embodied a genuine care to fight for America’s financial interests.
Trump didn’t just address concerns–he embraced them, used them as stepping-stones to cultivate policies that test the very fabric of international trade. Notably, he refused to rule out the possibility of an economic downturn within the year, showcasing his visionary perspective of looking beyond short-term challenges towards long-term economic fortitude.
Following his imposition and then subsequent suspension of a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, which received mixed reactions, Trump remained unyieldingly committed to his reciprocal tariff policy. Critics—panicky and shortsighted—saw this as infusing market instability through the menace of a potential trade war, but Trump, the strategic chess player, viewed it as striving for balance against the oversights of past administrations.
Trump’s focus wasn’t limited to short-term upheavals, he envisaged a long-term economic panorama where American interests stood prioritized. Thus, he announced more extensive tariffs—believing in the principle of reciprocity—that were set to kickstart on April 2nd. These tariffs were to mirror those levied by the trading partners, a direct answer to any unfair trade practices exercised against the U.S.
The idea that Trump’s plans may press pause on U.S. growth initially was not lost on Trump himself. However, he stood firm, aware of his long-term vision’s temporary costs. His insight and resolve demonstrated his steadfast commitment to revitalizing America’s economic strength, even when he was confronted with the Atlanta Fed’s forecasts predicting the economy’s contraction during the first quarter of the following year.
The journey to revive America’s wealth wasn’t going to be an overnight transformation. It required substantial transition periods, something Trump actively acknowledged when queried about a potential recession in 2025. Wisely avoiding playing the prophet, Trump instead described his efforts to bring prosperity back to American soil as noteworthy, albeit requiring sizeable time and perseverance.
Despite the tumultuous journey, Trump never lost sight of the goal: catalyzing American economic growth. This resolve was clear even in the face of uncertainties surrounding his proposed tariffs, some of which were attributed to perturbations on Wall Street. His critics misguidedly saw these uncertainties as a failure, entirely missing the greater picture of economic revival.
Business demands for predictability and stability, albeit understandable, came across as pleas entrenched in fear of change. Ironically, it was the fear of such change that had led to the economic stagnation before the Trump era. Trump, forever the maverick, side-lined such fretful apprehensions to pioneer his audacious tariff strategy, seen by some as a controversial hurrah to free trade.
Treading this unconventional path, Trump demonstrated flexibility and a keen understanding of economic ebb and flow. By lifting earlier tariffs imposed on car manufacturers in Mexico and Canada, along with almost all imports to the U.S., he entwined American economic interests with international diplomacy.
In contrast, he remained staunch on retaining tariffs for goods imported from China. A move that was criticized by some, but if observed keenly, signified his unflinching dedication to protect American manufacturing and jobs, even if it meant enduring the turbulence in the short run.
While one cannot entirely predict the trajectory of these economic moves, the effort to prioritize America’s economic security, even at the cost of temporary instability, was commendable. Trump’s economic policies, criticized and often ridiculed, perhaps require a sophisticated perspective to appreciate their underlining genius.
The fleeting re-emergence of Kamala Harris, through her rapid response account targeting the Trump economy, ended up serving as a bleak reminder of her failure, rather than a triumphant return. But, such is the fate of those who choose to lambast a plan without truly understanding its essence, or worse, choose to remain ignorant solely because of their biases.
Ultimately, Trump’s vision best exemplifies ‘America First’, which stands in stark contrast to Harris and Biden’s narratives. Does that make Trump’s strategy perfect? Probably not. However, it does aspire to a more prosperous future for America, which the strategy of critics like Kamala Harris glaringly lacks.