Rep. Kelly joins President Trump at White House for 'Make America Wealthy Again' event

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, joined President Donald J. Trump and other lawmakers at the White House where the President unveiled new tariffs and economic policies to level the playing field and make American businesses more competitive on the global stage.

The event, titled "Make America Wealthy Again," was held in the Rose Garden to commemorate what President Trump has designated as "Liberation Day."

"President Trump has made it clear: the America First agenda is focused on creating American jobs and strengthening national security. This is critically important to ensure not only free trade with other nations, but fair trade in this global economy," said Rep. Kelly.

On Tuesday, Rep. Kelly, a co-chair of the House Automotive Caucus, joined NewsNation to discuss the importance of auto tariffs, the President's goal to make more automobiles in the United States, and to rejuvenate the American auto industry.

BACKGROUND

The success of tariffs

• A 2024 study on the effects of President Trump's tariffs in his first term found that they "strengthened the U.S. economy" and "led to significant reshoring" in industries like manufacturing and steel production.
• A 2023 report by the U.S. International Trade Commission - which analyzed the effects of President Trump's Section 232 and 301 tariffs on more than $300 billion of U.S. imports - found the tariffs reduced imports from China, effectively stimulated more U.S. production of the affected goods, and had very minor effects on downstream prices.
• According to the Economic Policy Institute, the tariffs implemented by President Trump during his first term "clearly show[ed] no correlation with inflation" and had only a fleeting effect on overall prices.
  -- Economic Policy Institute: "Following implementation of Sec. 232 measures in 2018-and prior to the global downturn in 2020-U.S. steel output, employment, capital investment, and financial performance all improved. In particular, U.S. steel producers announced plans to invest more than $15.7 billion in new or upgraded steel facilities, creating at least 3,200 direct new jobs, many of which are now poised to come online."

Prior to President Trump's announcement on Wednesday, Israel and Vietnam are among the countries that have dropped their tariffs on the United States.

Issues:Tax Reform, Small Business, & The Economy