The whirlwind tour of Asia by the Trump administration has been nothing short of a spectacle, showcasing the President’s unmatched knack for deal-making and diplomacy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is working tirelessly from South Korea, has been at the forefront of witnessing these monumental moments. Trade deals with Japan and South Korea have been lauded as historic, securing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments. Despite the praises, critics from globalist publications argue that China still has the upper hand, claiming that their strategic withholding of soybean purchases and rare-earth exports squeezed tariff relief from the United States. But the Secretary would beg to differ vehemently.
Listening to the Secretary, it’s almost comedic to hear the mainstream media’s take on the trade wars. Contrary to their narrative of defeat, the administration is racking up wins across the board. Secretary Bessent highlights that President Trump’s visits to critical Asian countries have not only paved the way for peaceful resolutions, such as easing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, but have also opened the floodgates for investments like the $550 billion public sector investment from Japan. Compared to that, China’s rare earth strategy seems more like a petty inconvenience than a global stranglehold.
Moving on to the tense relationship with China, President Trump, in what can only be described as a dramatic twist, stood firm against China’s rare-earth licensing scheme, delaying it for a year—a move benefiting not just the U.S. but the entire world. This delay is strategically crucial, allowing the U.S. time to bolster its own capacities in rare-earth production. The President’s threat to double tariffs on China if they carried out their export control plan reinforced America’s leverage. China might hold the keys to rare-earth production, but the Trump administration wields tariffs like Excalibur, ready to strike if provoked.
Despite the naysayers in congress, particularly Democrats led by Hakeem Jeffries, who seem bent on painting this as a loss on the world stage, the administration appears unfazed. The Democratic attempts to downplay these achievements only highlight the party’s inability to move past their recycled talking points. They had control for two years with little to show beyond divisive legislation. Now, as they scurry in denial, the administration remains focused on reopening the government amidst a shutdown they failed to prevent.
Lastly, there’s the issue of the Federal Reserve seemingly out to rain on the administration’s parade. Chairman Jerome Powell’s hesitation about a December rate cut amidst signs of recovery raises eyebrows. The Fed’s reluctance paints a picture of politics at play, potentially hindering the resurgence in the housing market. Nevertheless, the administration’s perseverance and determination to claw back American independence in critical industries is on full display, and one might say, even the birds in South Korea seem to chirp approvingly. As Secretary Bessent wraps up his enthusiastic defense of the President’s summit, it’s unmistakably clear: America is back on the world stage, and love him or loathe him, President Trump is at the helm, enjoying his historic moment in the sun. Except, perhaps, for the Fed, which seems content to play the Grinch in this otherwise unfolding saga of economic triumph.
