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White House Narrows April 2 Tariffs

William Attardi on March 24, 2025

The White House is narrowing its approach to tariffs set to take effect on April 2, likely omitting a set of industry-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on a targeted set of nations that account for the bulk of foreign trade with the U.S.  President Trump has declared his April 2 deadline to be “Liberation Day” for the U.S., when he will put in place what is called reciprocal tariffs that seek to equalize U.S. tariffs with the duties charged by trading partners, as well as tariffs on sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors he repeatedly said would be enacted on that day. The administration is now focusing on applying tariffs to about 15% of nations with persistent trade imbalances with the U.S.  Despite economic concerns and global pushback, Trump reiterated his goal of using tariffs to restore trade balance and economic strength.  White House Narrows April 2 Tariffs – WSJ

Positioning American Energy for the Next Century

William Attardi on February 21, 2025

On February 14, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council.

  • The National Energy Dominance Council will be established within the Executive Office of the President, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by the Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and comprised of members of President Trump’s cabinet and key government agencies.
  • The Council will advise President Trump on strategies to achieve energy dominance by improving the processes for permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation across all forms of American energy.
  • It will recommend a National Energy Dominance Strategy to the President aimed at cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments, and advancing innovation.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the National Energy Dominance Council – The White House

High-Tech Partnership Invests $500 Billion in AI

William Attardi on January 23, 2025

President Donald Trump on Tuesday talked up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by Sam Altman of OpenAI, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and Masayoshi Son of SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. “This will be the most important project of this era,” said Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The White House has put an emphasis on making it easier to build out new electricity generation in anticipation of AI’s expansion, knowing that the United States is in a competitive race against China to develop a technology increasingly being adopted by businesses. High-Tech Partnership Invests $500 Billion in AI – electrifiED

Trump Return Likely to Slow, Not Stop, US Clean-Energy Boom

William Attardi on November 21, 2024

Donald Trump’s return to the White House will refocus the nation’s energy policy onto maximizing oil and gas production and away from fighting climate change, but the Republican win in Tuesday’s presidential election is unlikely to dramatically slow the U.S. renewable energy boom. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are the fastest-growing segments on the power grid, according to the Department of Energy, driven by federal tax credits, state renewable-energy mandates, and technology advancements that have lowered their costs. Trump return likely to slow, not stop, US clean-energy boom | Reuters

Key Themes of Washington’s Farewell Address 

Crafted with the assistance of his close advisors, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, President George Washington’s Farewell Address was intended to offer guidance and warnings to the American people as they faced the challenges of the future. Among the most significant themes were:

  1. Neutrality in Foreign Affairs – advising that the United States should avoid becoming involved in the conflicts and political machinations of foreign powers. He argued that such alliances could lead to unnecessary entanglements and could jeopardize American interests and independence.
  2. The Dangers of Political Parties – Washington expressed concern that political factions could lead to divisions within the country and weaken the unity of the nation. He believed that political parties could become sources of discord and could prioritize their own interests over the common good. He encouraged Americans to work together for the benefit of the nation as a whole.
  3. The Importance of National Unity – He emphasized that the strength of the United States depended on the unity of its people and the coherence of its government. Washington urged Americans to set aside regional and political differences and to work together to build a strong and prosperous nation. Source: Day in History