MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump’s psychotic behavior as he runs back to Florida after crashing the markets today.
Donald did not want to talk about the signal gate, and Trump can do what he wants, and his base does not realize he has no clue what Tariffs do.
ChatGPT said:
You’re bringing up a mix of issues that reflect broader concerns some people have had about Donald Trump’s leadership style and understanding of policy. Let’s break it down:
🛰️ “Signal Gate”
There’s no officially recognized scandal called “Signal Gate” associated with Trump (at least up to now). If you’re referencing something specific—like communications surveillance, military intel leaks, or a media narrative—feel free to clarify and I can dig deeper into that topic.
💼 “Trump can do what he wants” & His Base
Trump has often operated with a strongman persona, portraying himself as someone who “breaks the rules” to get things done. His base tends to admire that as decisive leadership. Critics, however, argue that this attitude can lead to authoritarian tendencies and disregard for democratic norms or expert advice.
📈 Tariffs
Tariffs are a great example of economic policy where Trump often framed them as a tool to punish other countries (especially China), saying they bring money into the U.S. But here’s the kicker:
- Tariffs are taxes on imports, paid by U.S. businesses and consumers, not foreign governments.
- Studies showed that many of Trump’s tariffs led to higher costs for American companies and consumers.
- Farmers and manufacturers that relied on global supply chains were hit hard.
Many economists criticized his tariff policy as economically misguided. But for Trump’s core supporters, the rhetoric of “fighting for America” often resonated more than the actual outcomes.
Want to go deeper into how tariffs work or the actual effects they had during his presidency?
🔥 Claim: “90,000 plants closed in America”
This claim has been repeated by Trump, but there’s no verified data showing that 90,000 U.S. factories or plants closed in recent years.
- The Truth:
The U.S. had about 350,000 manufacturing establishments in 2000. That number declined during the early 2000s, especially after China’s entry into the WTO (2001).
However, the number of factories has remained relatively steady or even grown slightly since the mid-2010s. - What Trump Did:
Trump often cherry-picks statistics or exaggerates numbers to support his narrative that America was being “gutted” by globalization and that he “brought back manufacturing.”
But during his first term, manufacturing job growth slowed—especially after the 2018–2019 trade war with China.
📉 Fact Check: The “90,000” figure is not supported by economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census.
📉 Did Trump Inherit a “Bad Economy”?
No, the economy was growing steadily when Trump took office in January 2017.
- Under Obama (post-Great Recession):
- 75 straight months of job growth
- Unemployment fell from 10% (2009) to ~4.7% (2016)
- GDP growth around 2% yearly
- Trump Inherited:
- Low unemployment
- Strong stock market
- Stable inflation
- Decent wage growth
Trump’s 2017 tax cuts did stimulate the economy short-term, but growth remained similar to Obama’s last years—until COVID hit in 2020.
💼 Did Trump Care About People Losing Their 401(k)s?
- Trump often bragged about the stock market, claiming it helped “everyone’s 401(k)s go up.”
- However, stock market performance does not equally affect all Americans—only about half of U.S. adults have a 401(k) or stocks.
- During COVID (March 2020):
- The market crashed and 401(k) balances fell.
- The government passed stimulus packages (some bipartisan, some led by Trump) that helped recovery, but many Americans lost jobs or drained their savings.
- Trump often focused more on Wall Street than Main Street.
⚖️ Bottom Line
- 🔴 The “90,000 plants closed” claim is false or wildly exaggerated.
- 🟡 Trump did not inherit a bad economy—he inherited a recovering, growing one.
- 🟠 While Trump touted 401(k)s often, he prioritized optics over structural support for middle- and working-class savers.
Would you like a comparison of Trump vs. Biden in terms of job growth, wage increases, or stock market performance?
I prefer this responseChatGPT
Response 2
It appears there may be some confusion regarding the claim that 90,000 manufacturing plants have closed in America. This specific figure does not align with publicly available data. While it’s true that the U.S. has experienced a decline in manufacturing facilities over the past few decades, the exact number is subject to various interpretations and depends on the timeframe and sources considered.
Regarding the State of the Economy:
Contrary to claims of inheriting a poor economy, President Donald Trump assumed office in 2025 during a period of economic strength. Key indicators at that time included:
- Unemployment Rate: 4.1%The Guardian
- Inflation Rate: 2.9%AP News
- GDP Growth: 3.1%WSJ+7The Guardian+7Axios+7
These figures suggest that the economy was robust upon his inauguration. The Guardian+3Axios+3Axios+3
Impact on 401(k) Retirement Accounts:
The introduction of significant tariffs by the Trump administration in April 2025 led to market volatility. Major stock indices experienced declines exceeding 3%, raising concerns about the potential negative effects on retirement accounts such as 401(k)s. While the administration asserted that these tariffs aimed to bolster domestic manufacturing and economic independence, many economists warned of possible recessionary consequences and adverse impacts on investment portfolios. Latest news & breaking headlinesWSJ
In summary, the claim of 90,000 plant closures lacks substantiation, the economy was relatively strong when President Trump took office, and recent tariff implementations have introduced uncertainties that could affect retirement savings.
Sources
I prefer this response
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