Is America counter-punching in a long-running trade war, or shooting itself in the foot? Economist E.J. Antoni, Unleashed Prosperity Senior Fellow and Heritage Foundation economist, joins Maggie Lake to dissect the White House’s tariff rollout, trade strategy, and the Fed’s credibility crisis. Antoni warns that a botched tariff formula is rattling allies and markets, even if the long-term goals may be sound.

In this must-watch conversation, Antoni explains why:

The U.S. isn’t starting a trade war, it’s finally fighting back
A flawed rollout is sowing confusion among trading partners
Tariffs may sting now but could revive U.S. manufacturing
Deregulation and tax reform (not tariffs) will move the economic needle most
The Fed’s mixed signals have shattered market confidence
Runaway spending could spark a bond-market revolt and send gold even higher

Chapters:

0:19 - Economic Outlook: How Fragile Is the U.S. Recovery?

2:40 - Tariff Slip-Up: Why Was the Rollout Botched?

6:05 - Did the Blunder Weaken America’s Bargaining Power?

8:39 - Negotiations in Limbo: What’s Stalling the Talks?

10:38 - Are Deals with China’s Rivals Enough for Markets?

13:07 - Strategy vs. Execution: Is the Trade Plan Sound?

19:04 - Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain?

22:41 - Will Consumers Feel an Inflation Shock?

24:43 - No Alternatives: Could Tariffs Empty Store Shelves?

27:05 - Reshoring Reality: Can Manufacturing Boom Again?

31:55 - Unions or Right-to-Work: Which Model Wins?

33:50 - Will Young Workers Fill Factory Floors?

38:27 - Rebalancing: Do Equities Sacrifice Returns?

39:51 - Robots, AI and the Future of Tariffs

42:33 - Fed in a Bind: Cut Rates or Stand Pat?

44:35 - Can the Fed Be Reformed?

47:12 - Fiscal Cliff: How Dangerous Are Deficits Now?

48:53 - Where Can Washington Actually Cut Spending?

52:51 - Balanced Budget Without Market Chaos?

55:13 - Are Tariffs Distracting from Tax Reform?

56:03 - Could the Trade War Escalate into a Capital War?

He also outlines how the next few months could reshape global trade, and why gold might be the only safe bet left.

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IMPORTANT NOTE: The information, opinions, and insights expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of Wealthion. They are intended to provide a diverse perspective on the economy, investing, and other relevant topics to enrich your understanding of these complex fields.

While we value and appreciate the insights shared by our esteemed guests, they are to be viewed as personal opinions and not as investment advice or recommendations from Wealthion. These opinions should not replace your own due diligence or the advice of a professional financial advisor.

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