In a jaw-dropping interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” President-elect Donald Trump set off fireworks by suggesting a radical idea: abolishing the income tax and instead using tariffs to fuel the economy. Yes, you heard that right—Trump wants to do away with the income tax and bring in revenue through strategic tariffs. If you thought Trump’s plans couldn’t get any bolder, well, buckle up, because he’s clearly just getting started.
Now, let’s get this straight. Historically, conservatives like Glenn Beck have shied away from tariffs, seeing them as just another form of government meddling. But after hearing Trump’s take, even Glenn is reconsidering. “I’ve always been against tariffs,” Beck admitted. “However, I might be wrong. Donald Trump is making a good case here.” And you know what? He’s right. If tariffs mean we can cut out income tax, keep more of our hard-earned money, and kickstart a boom in American manufacturing, then maybe it’s time to rethink things.
To dig deeper, Beck called in Peter St. Onge, an economic expert from the Heritage Foundation, to weigh in. “The vast majority of economists attack Trump over tariffs,” St. Onge began, “but they’re missing the big picture.” And that picture? Trump’s plan could be “rocket fuel for the economy.”
St. Onge breaks it down: tariffs are like a sales tax, but targeted at imported goods. If you scrap the income tax and rely on tariffs, you’re essentially turbocharging American business while making it tougher for foreign products to crowd out our own. The idea recalls the economic golden era of the 1800s—back when the government lived off tariffs and, importantly, there was no IRS breathing down our necks or a Federal Reserve trying to control every dollar in circulation. “That was the greatest period not only of economic growth but of cultural achievement,” St. Onge pointed out.
And here’s the kicker: imagine an economy powered by a modest tariff on imports, especially on goods from places like China. As St. Onge put it, “If Trump can take us back there, and all we have to do is apply an 8% sales tax on Chinese products, that is the deal of the century.”
Imagine the economic freedom and prosperity—an America where the government isn’t lurking over every paycheck. And let’s face it, the Democrats would hate it. They thrive on taxes, on controlling every last dime you earn. Democrats talk about “fair shares” and “equality,” but somehow it always translates into higher taxes, regulations, and less freedom. Trump’s plan is the exact opposite—a way to put Americans first, create jobs, and let us keep more of what we work for. It’s precisely the kind of pro-America approach that has liberals spinning because it exposes their tax-and-spend approach for what it is: a burden on hard-working Americans.
So, while the left clutches their pearls and warns of impending doom, Trump is offering an economic vision that harkens back to when America was truly the land of the free and home of the brave. And who’s going to stand in his way? Certainly not the voters who just put him back in the Oval Office. This is the economic overhaul Americans have been waiting for, and it’s no surprise Trump is the one leading the charge.