Free Trade Is Good, Actually

donald trump’s election marked a seismic shift in the u.s. political landscape, particularly for the future of economic policy. among his most concerning proposals are his tariff plans. trump’s approach represents a departure from a pillar of conservative politics that has underpinned american prosperity and global dominance for decades: free trade.

this shift is further underscored by his running mate, jd vance, a figure some in the tech community find relatable. vance doesn’t just dislike free trade—he outright blames it for the economic struggles of the middle class. in his view, free trade has eroded america’s manufacturing base and shipped away opportunities that should belong to american workers.

but here’s the catch: if tech enthusiasts and innovators hope to find an economic identity within today’s republican party, they’re looking in the wrong place. trump and vance are leading a new wave of economic populism that champions labor protectionism and industry restrictions—a brand of nationalism that sacrifices growth and innovation at the altar of “american jobs.” it’s the same spirit that motivated the recent dockworkers strike, which pushed to halt technological advancements and impose limits on automation in american industry.

we face a clear choice: continue to lead as the wealth engine of the world, or surrender to the kind of stagnation that has mired european economies for years. the stakes are high, and our path forward will define whether we forge into a future of innovation or succumb to self-imposed irrelevance.