Apples and Oranges: Why Comparing McKinley’s Tariffs to Trump’s Strategy Misses the Mark

Know Your History to Invest Wisely in the Future

Mainstream media pundits, partisan politicians, and celebrity economists love to dunk on Trump’s tariff strategy by claiming it’s just a recycled idea from the McKinley era—a doomed attempt at protectionism that history has already proven ineffective. But this take is not only simplistic—it’s dangerously out of context.

It ignores the radically different economic architecture of the 21st century: the dominance of the U.S. dollar, the complexity of global supply chains, the power of consumer demand, and perhaps most importantly, the emergence of Bitcoin as a strategic financial force capable of complementing and even extending American financial hegemony into the decentralized age.

To claim that Trump’s 2025 tariff policies are destined to fail because McKinley’s didn’t produce an immediate boom is like saying your Tesla will break down because steam engines once overheated. History rhymes, yes—but the tune, instruments, and stage have all changed.

Let’s examine the critical differences b…