By Francis O’Hara

The introduction of tariffs came not a moment too soon—America was teetering on the edge of no return. Our superpower status, once unshakable, was unraveling before our very eyes. Yet the full extent of the nation’s decline remained obscured—until President Donald J. Trump stepped forward.

On the rally stage, with unwavering conviction, he warned the American people: if elected again, he would take bold, uncompromising action to restore this nation to its former greatness. His plan was clear—shut the border, halt the unprecedented surge of illegal immigration, and put American sovereignty first.

Within just one week of his return to the office, the border was sealed. Despite fierce resistance from Democrats and activist judges, deportations of criminal aliens began in earnest. Federal funding was stripped from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across educational institutions, signaling a shift toward merit and accountability.

He ordered the immediate release of January 6th prisoners—men and women who had been held in legal limbo for four long years for daring to demonstrate at the United States Congress. And through the implementation of DOGE, a sweeping initiative targeting government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, the bloated Washington bureaucracy was finally being brought to heel.

Since January 20th, the scale and speed of promises kept have been nothing short of historic surpassing that of any modern president, perhaps any president in the history of the Republic.

Controversy has never been something this president shies away from. In fact, he meets it head-on. His recent proposal to impose sweeping tariffs on nations across the globe has sent shockwaves through the international community.

After World War I, the United States, as the newly crowned global superpower, allowed trade surpluses to flow into war-torn nations, especially in Europe, to help them rebuild from the ashes. After World War II, again trade surpluses continued, additionally this economic aid came with a military commitment—through NATO, the U.S. shouldered nearly 80% of the defense costs for the continent.

Across the globe—in Japan, South Korea, Canada, and around the world —American military bases were established to guarantee the safety of nations that lacked the capacity to protect themselves. And while many presidents before having made bold campaign promises to rebalance trade and demand fair contributions to mutual defense, none had the will—or the courage—to follow through. Until now.

Arguments will be presented—primarily by elites and special interests—that tariffs are dangerous or counterproductive. However, these claims do not serve the interests of the American middle-class working-class individuals who have little to no stake in Wall Street. They do not address the hollowed-out heart of our nation—the Rust Belt towns that once thrived on manufacturing but have since been left to rot

Among the worst offenders in global trade is China. Since the 1980s—and especially after China’s admission into the World Trade Organization in 2001—U.S. manufacturing has been siphoned overseas at an alarming rate. The result? A massive and growing trade deficit. China exports four to five times more to the United States compared to what it imports from the US. It steals our technology, manipulates its currency, and undermines us at every turn.

Meanwhile, China grows richer by the day. Its Gross National Product is on track to surpass America’s if the current status quo is allowed to continue. President Biden had dismissed them as mere “competitors,” but that illusion is crumbling. China’s sprawling Belt and Road Initiative is not charity—it’s a global power play. And if left unchecked, it will erode America’s standing as the world’s preeminent superpower.

For years, we were told to believe a fantasy—that, over time, wages in countries like China and India and other third world countries would rise, leveling the playing field and making true free trade possible. But that belief has proven to be nothing more than a pipe dream.

To this day, workers in China and India are paid shockingly low wages—often as little as $300 a month. And in China, there are growing concerns about forced labor camps, particularly for those who dare to speak out against the Communist regime. In India, roughly 90% of the population earns around that same meager amount, with little sign of significant change.

Meanwhile, the United States is staggering under the weight of a national debt that has now surpassed $37 trillion—and is on pace to reach $50 trillion within just a few years. At that point, this nation will be at risk of collapse. That is why we cannot wait. The time has come to establish a new world order—an order that puts America first, before it is too late.

Only President Donald J. Trump has both the strength and the vision to lead that transformation. Our country has been sold out—piece by piece—by corrupt politicians and multinational conglomerates who serve global interests, not the American people.

And yet, all is not lost. The United States remains the single largest consumer market on the planet. The leverage is in our hands. This is our moment—and we must not waste it. Yes, there will be a period of transition. Yes, we may face economic turbulence. But we’ve endured recessions before—roughly every ten years throughout modern history. We will endure it again.

And when the dust settles, America will rise—not as a nation dependent on hostile foreign powers, but as a renewed manufacturing powerhouse. We must be willing to pay a little more, if that’s what it takes. We must commit to buying American. Because the alternative is unthinkable—and the cost of inaction is the end of the American dream.