Tom DiLorenzo on Donald Trump's "populism"

President Trump’s election is said to be a “populist” victory against the deep state establishment, but there is nothing more anti-populist than protectionist tariff taxes.  Protectionist tariff taxes are nothing more than a price-fixing conspiracy orchestrated by the state that enriches a relatively small group of politically connected corporations (and their unions) by plundering their consumers with higher prices.  After all, if it is possible to use tariffs to force foreigners to pay a county’s taxes, every government on earth would be doing it.  Yet President Trump apparently believes that he has discovered some kind of holy grail of economics that proves you can get something for nothing after all. 

~ Thomas J. DiLorenzo, William McKinley: Prostitute of Protectionism, Mises Wire, January 29, 2025