Staff Reports
A former president is back at it again, boldly proclaiming he might just slap a hefty double-digit tariff on Mexico if that country doesn’t get its act together and stop the torrent of illegal border crossings. During a lively campaign stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, Donald Trump made it clear that he’s keeping this little gem of a policy under wraps until the last possible moment—primarily to prevent his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, from co-opting a truly American idea.
Trump’s strategy is not just a clever game of political chess; it’s got numbers and logic backstopping it. If the tariff doesn’t work, he insists he’ll simply ramp it up. With a promise that sounds more like a scene from a trade-war movie, he assures supporters that if starting with a double-digit tariff isn’t enough to slam the brakes on illegal crossings, he’s prepared to make it 50%, 75%, or even a staggering 100%. The crowd in Raleigh responded with euphoric enthusiasm, proving yet again that the former president knows how to give them what they want.
The economic backdrop to this plan is hard to ignore. The U.S. imported a staggering $493 billion worth of goods from Mexico in 2022, marking a whopping 64% increase over the past decade. Dreaming about a potential financial smackdown on the southern neighbor feels almost like an economic fairy tale for Trump, whose keen understanding of trade is championed by many and derided by others as a sales tax in disguise. But who wouldn’t want to make the folks who are not pulling their weight pay up?
Trump proposes a 25% tariff on Mexican goods… IF they don’t stop onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into US.
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 4, 2024
With the election rapidly approaching, Trump is wasting no time taking his message on the road. His rally schedule is packed with vigorous appearances in key swing states. Following his North Carolina show, it’s off to Pittsburgh and Reading, Pennsylvania, and then grand-finale style to Grand Rapids, Michigan. One can almost hear the proverbial clock ticking down the days, with Trump preparing to charm voters in a race where every vote may count more than ever.
Meanwhile, Harris is busily trying to work her own pitch in the same state, hitting up three cities and hoping to find a few sympathetic listeners among the crowd. One has to wonder how effective her trek will be against Trump’s rhetoric and enthusiastic base, especially with his appeal to American pride and economic strength resonating in an age where border security has become a hot topic. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to an already wild election season.
