Editorial | America is now a business

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Over 100 days into the second Trump administration, one thing is clear: America is now a business, commodifying anything from tariffs to crypto in order to coerce other countries to do what the President wants. And while many people may try to stop President Trump from questionable and even unconstitutional acts, his tactic of overwhelming the media with his announcements have been effective thus far. But taking a step back and looking at his change in governance from the Biden administration the past four years, one pattern emerges: his favor is something that can be bought and sold for a price. And he can use this weapon to his advantage (but for the general American populace? Not so much).

Negotiating in Tariffs

Over a month ago on April 2, President Trump announced “Liberation Day” had come, and reciprocal tariffs were to be placed upon all countries we trade with (and some we don’t) in order to correct the imbalance tariffs placed on US goods. This included a base 10% tariff on all imports, and caused the stock markets to crash in a one-day loss not seen since Trump’s first term in June of 2020. And while you rightfully would think this affects the rich the most, they can afford such losses—middle class workers with retirement accounts or a few stocks to their name had much more to lose.

Many retirees and workers nearing retirement interviewed by NBC were worried about the massive losses to the money they’d worked decades to accrue. And while markets are back to pre-Liberation Day prices, this past month has been incredibly hard to navigate. And much of the middle class is still wary of the changes made by the current administration because it could change their futures in a matter of days. However this period has had an opposite effect for the upper class, who benefitted from further tax cuts and a message to buy stocks right before he paused many of the tariffs. This message in particular benefitted his inner circle, many of whom had the ability to buy stocks that the working class might not.

And this manipulation continued as a war with China over imports crescendoed past the 100% tariff territory until a trade agreement was struck to reduce both countries’ tariffs by 110%. But the point of these tariffs weren’t just to aggravate China, they were to boost American production—and it worked. Companies like Stellantis, TSMC, and Apple are increasing US-based manufacturing as detailed in a triumphant press release by the White House. Tariffs, though causing turbulence and insecurity for those below President Trump, are an effective bargaining chip that he can (and does) use to his benefit.

Selling Foreign Influence

Another of the current President’s practices is to offer up the chance to meet with him—for a price. These exclusive events include crypto dinners and private jets that he promises won’t sway him as leader of the free world. But after Qatar offered him a $400 billion jet, he announced an unprecedented $1.2 trillion economic exchange. And as for the crypto dinner, many of the top buyers into his cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, were powerful foreign figures. While foreign relations are important to maintain, using your country’s politics as a resource to be bought and sold is not what the Presidency should be used for.

Nevertheless, he and his loyal appointees are clearing a path for their massive breaches of power, including Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent move to remove the FBI Foreign Influence Task Force and limit other aspects of foreign influence laws. Coincidentally, these policies were put in place by the first Trump administration, so it seems the President had a change of heart in the past few years.

A few other noteworthy acts by President Trump include the resumption of nuclear talks with Iran, which could be easily dismantled by an attack from Israel. Additionally, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has little faith in any concrete plans, describing US demands as “outrageous” and advising the Trump administration to steer clear of “nonsensical remarks.” This is yet another example in President Trump’s pattern of ludicrous claims to try and buy Greenland, Canada, or even Gaza. While Egypt and Israel have different ideas for Palestinian peace and restoration in the Gaza strip, Trump believes that America should take over the area for stability, a sentiment which Hamas echoes.

Trump is also famous for his Oval Office meetings, in which a foreign leader is invited into the gold decorated room and relentlessly berated by the President and other US officials. This pattern became apparent with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron’s meetings, which were filled with bickering and misinformation. Japan, Britain, and Canada all tested their mettle to varying degrees of success.

These conversations were often filled with ambitious and fictitious claims made by the President, though maybe none as brazen as his clash with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He showed widely dismissed clips to back up his claims of a white farmer genocide in the nation. But President Ramaphosa remained firm and assertive, citing that he wasn’t just there to appease the American leader: “I don’t have a plane to give.”

How Businesses Fail

America, like many businesses, could falter in many ways: it could slip into insurmountable debt, succumb to its many enemies, fade into obscurity, self-destruct, or a combination of these things. It all depends on how President Trump continues to run the country and how other states respond and interact. But for now, cutting taxes for the rich and benefits for the poor continue widening the class wage gap and threaten the delicate balance of democracy holding up this country. With the United States’ 250th birthday soon approaching, every move made by the government will show how viable the American experiment is two and a half centuries progressed.

Works Cited

American Jewish Committee. “What Is Trump’s Proposal for Gaza?” AJC, 10 Feb. 2025, http://www.ajc.org/news/what-is-trumps-proposal-for-gaza.

Condon, Bernard, and Associated Press. “Trump Told Investors to ‘Buy’ on Social Media Hours before His Tariff Pause Rose Stocks, Raising Questions about Manipulation.” PBS News, 10 Apr. 2025, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-told-investors-to-buy-on-social-media-hours-before-his-tariff-pause-rose-stocks-raising-questions-about-manipulation.

Gritten, David. “Iran’s Khamenei Doubts US Nuclear Talks Will Lead to Agreement.” BBC, 20 May 2025, http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp855k42wpko.

Harithas, Barath, et al. “‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Explained.” Csis.org, 3 Apr. 2025, http://www.csis.org/analysis/liberation-day-tariffs-explained.

Lee, Matthew. “Rubio, at Senate Hearing, Defends Trump Foreign Policy.” Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025, http://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-05-20/rubio-at-senate-hearing-defends-trump-foreign-policy-as-democratic-senators-ask-pointed-questions. Accessed 22 May 2025.

Marx, Willem, and Emily Feng. “The U.S. And China Announce a Deal to Cut Tariffs, Temporarily Easing Trade War.” NPR, 12 May 2025, http://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/nx-s1-5395027/us-china-tariffs-deal-trade-war-beijing-washington.

Melloy, John, and Pia Singh. “Dow Futures Tumble 1,000 Points on Fear Trump’s Tariffs Will Spark Trade War: Live Updates.” CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025, http://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/02/stock-market-today-live-updates-trump-tariffs.html.

Ocampo, Omar. “‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Will Concentrate Wealth Even More.” Inequality.org, 2025, inequality.org/article/liberation-day-tariffs-will-concentrate-wealth-even-more/.

Robins-Early, Nick. “Top Buyers of Trump-Sponsored Crypto Win Exclusive Dinner with President.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 13 May 2025, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/12/top-buyers-trump-cryptocurrency-dinner. Accessed 13 May 2025.

Silva, Daniella. “Retirees ‘Stunned’ as Market Turmoil over Tariffs Shrinks Their 401(K)S.” NBC News, 5 Apr. 2025, http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/retirees-stunned-market-turmoil-tariffs-shrinks-401ks-rcna199753.

Smith, Alexander. “Golfers, Guile and Gifts: South Africa’s President Follows the New Playbook for Handling Trump.” NBC News, 22 May 2025, http://www.nbcnews.com/world/africa/south-africa-ramaphosa-trump-oval-office-president-white-house-rcna208443. Accessed 22 May 2025.

The Associated Press. “Live Updates: Trump Signs an Economic Agreement with the Saudi Crown Prince in His First Middle East Stop.” AP News, 13 May 2025, apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-13-2025.

Treisman, Rachel. “Ethics Experts Worry about the Implications of Trump Accepting Qatar’s Luxury Plane.” NPR, 12 May 2025, http://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/nx-s1-5395696/qatar-trump-plane-gift-ethics. Accessed 13 May 2025.

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