Those figures don’t mean much at all, half of credit card usage isn’t debt (paid in full monthly, rewards/air miles/cashback). As young people are more educated and show more interest in this space, they’re likely to go 100% credit instead of debit and those figures will skyrocket.
As of early 2025, nearly half of American credit cardholders are carrying balances month to month, with average debts per person ranging between $6,400 and $6,730. This trend reflects growing financial strain amid persistent inflation, high interest rates, and recent tariffs that have increased consumer prices.
Current Credit Card Debt Landscape
48% of credit cardholders carry a balance from month to month, up from 44% at the start of 2024.
53% of those with credit card debt have been in debt for at least a year, leading to significant interest accumulation.
Average credit card balance among U.S. consumers was $6,730 as of Q3 2024, marking a 3.5% increase from the previous year.
Average balance per person carrying debt is approximately $6,400, with interest rates around 20%, potentially extending repayment periods significantly if only minimum payments are made.
Factors Contributing to Rising Credit Card Debt
- Inflation and High Interest Rates: Persistent inflation and elevated interest rates have increased the cost of living, making it more challenging for consumers to pay off credit card balances.
- Unexpected Expenses: Approximately 47% of borrowers cite unexpected or emergency expenses—such as medical bills or car and home repairs—as primary reasons for carrying a balance.
Tariffs Impact: Recent tariffs have contributed to higher consumer prices, further straining household budgets and potentially leading to increased reliance on credit cards.
Outlook for 2025: Financial analysts anticipate that credit card balances will continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. TransUnion projects credit card balances to increase to $1.1 trillion by the end of 2025, representing a 4.4% year-over-year rise.
Serious credit card delinquency rates (90+ days past due) are also expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, reaching 2.76%, indicating ongoing financial challenges for many consumers.
Note a few things in the stats above:
1. Much of the data is before impacts of tariffs kick in. Not to worry though! Trump is a busy bee with concepts of plans of deals and such with the 1st HUGE one being announced yesterday, so no doubt we'll all be in for a windfall soon enuff. Prior to announcing the deal, Trump "truthed" The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the US & UK for many years to come. Once the plan was announced, it was indeed a concept of a plan. The main element of the MAJOR TRADE DEAL is that the 10% tariffs on British imports will be 10%, but that the announced 27.5% tariffs on British cars will be dropped to 10%, while the tariffs on British aluminum and steel will be eliminated entirely. In exchange, the British will ease the import of American beef and ethanol (i.e., products made by the farmers who are key to Trump's base) but the specifics are unclear. In other words, if you have a few pennies kicking around, you can buy a Range Rover or Bentley with only a 10% tariff! Prior to Trump's inauguration on J20 25, British-made luxury cars—such as Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and Aston Martins—were subject to a 2.5% U.S. import tariff, consistent with the standard rate for passenger vehicles under World Trade Organization rules. If you're one of the lucky 1st 100k purchasers of a British made luxury car and decided you must have a Bentley Continental GTC Azure V8 (one of the mid priced ones), it would cost you close to $390k an increase of only $35k since Trump became president!
2. 5 hours ago today Trump "truthed": Costs down, NO INFLATION. Very different from what the Fed, and Fake News Media, were hoping for!"
If Trump says there is no inflation, there is NO inflation y'all! even if there is.
Yes, America's little girls may have a few less dolls under the tree this Christmas... On the upside, as adults, they may have a secure, well-paying job to look forward to, and lots of disposable income to buy their kids many dolls or other sorts of toys... Some good old fashioned deferred gratification... Sounds worth it to me...
"Adults "may" have a secure, well-paying job to look forward to": That a BIG "may" especially with trump changing his mind every 5 minutes about tariffs. No one wants to invest in trump's imaginary "new factories" because they don't know what he is going to do next. And of course, tariffs are passed on to the consumer...
He is not freaking changing his mind every 5 minutes! He is strategizing and negotiating. OMG. THE ART OF THE DEAL! Let the man work. You people are such spoiled children. He is attempting to reorder the entire system organized AGAINST the American citizen. It’s been 100 days. Will you give the man, who apparently was saved by the good Lord in heaven, a chance to do what he promised to do??
You think he has a "strategy"? You are dreaming....
Trump wrote "The Art of the Grift"
Trump’s two older sons have pursued a blitz of family moneymaking ventures capitalizing on their father’s name and power, each seemingly trying to outdo the other. It is a rush to cash in that involves billions of dollars with few precedents in American history.
A luxury hotel in Dubai. A second high-end residential tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two cryptocurrency ventures based in the United States. A new golf course and villa complex in Qatar. And a new private club in Washington. In many cases these new deals promoted over the last week will personally benefit not only Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., but also Trump himself.
What's a matter? Not grifty enough for you? Maybe Don Jr. should take up painting "art work." By closing the border President Trump will have saved 100's of thousands of lives from fentanyl alone. So what if the kids make a buck.
Well, the right freaked out when Hunter worked for worked for Burisma. I'm sure the Trump boys are making far more than Hunter ever did. Do you think cryptocurrency might bring in more than Hunter's paintings? And Jared Kushner got $2B from his favorite Saudi prince MSB which the created the appearance of potential payback for Kushner, given that he had been a staunch defender of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman while at the White House.
During Donald Trump’s second term as the 47th President, numerous companies have announced significant investments in the United States, driven by policies such as tariffs, deregulation, and incentives for domestic manufacturing. Below is a list of companies reported to be investing in America, based on available information from web sources and posts on X. Note that some investments may have been planned prior to Trump’s term, and not all pledged investments are guaranteed to materialize.
Major Companies Investing in the U.S.:
Apple
Investment: $500 billion over four years.
Details: Focused on expanding U.S. manufacturing, AI server production, and job creation (20,000 new jobs). Includes a new server manufacturing facility in Houston and a supplier academy in Michigan. Announced after a meeting with Trump, possibly to mitigate tariff impacts.
Source: White House, CNN Business, Bloomberg.
NVIDIA
Investment: $500 billion over four years.
Details: Investment in U.S.-based AI infrastructure, including manufacturing AI supercomputers and chips domestically. Aimed at strengthening supply chains and meeting AI demand.
Source: White House, Fox Business.
SoftBank
Investment: $100–$700 billion.
Details: Includes a $100 billion investment announced at Mar-a-Lago for AI and infrastructure, creating 100,000 jobs. Also part of a $500 billion AI infrastructure project (Project Stargate) with Oracle and OpenAI, and a $700 billion partnership with Oracle/OpenAI.
Source: White House, Newsweek, CNN Business.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
Investment: $100 billion (in addition to $65 billion previously committed).
Details: Investment in Arizona-based semiconductor chip manufacturing, building five fabrication facilities. Expected to create thousands of high-paying jobs. Described as the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history.
Source: White House, CNN Business, Bloomberg.
Hyundai
Investment: $20–$21 billion (2025–2028).
Details: Includes a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana (producing 2.7 million metric tons annually, creating 1,400 jobs) to supply auto plants in Alabama and Georgia. Additional investments in automobile production ($9 billion), parts/logistics ($6 billion), and energy/EV infrastructure ($6 billion). Expected to create over 100,000 jobs.
Source: CNN Business, Fox Business.
Johnson & Johnson
Investment: $55 billion.
Details: Investments in manufacturing, R&D, and technology upgrades, including a new biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina. Represents a 25% increase over prior investments.
Source: Newsweek, Fox Business.
Eli Lilly
Investment: $27 billion.
Details: Expansion of domestic pharmaceutical production and new facilities.
Source: Fox Business, X posts.
Roche
Investment: $50 billion.
Details: Pharmaceutical company investing in U.S. operations, though specific details are limited.
Source: X posts (inconclusive without further verification).
Merck
Investment: $9 billion.
Details: Expansion of domestic vaccine and drug production capacity.
Source: Fox Business, X posts.
IBM
Investment: $150 billion over five years.
Details: Growth in U.S. research, chip development, and AI technology.
Source: White House, Fox Business.
Amazon
Investment: $4 billion.
Details: Focused on small towns, creating over 100,000 jobs. Part of broader investment pledges.
Source: White House, X posts.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Investment: $3 billion.
Details: Agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at a North Carolina facility.
Source: White House.
NorthMark Strategies
Investment: $2.8 billion.
Details: Building a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
Source: White House.
Kimberly-Clark
Investment: $2 billion.
Details: Expansion of U.S. manufacturing, including a new facility in Warren, Ohio, and upgrades in Beech Island, South Carolina.
Source: White House.
Chobani
Investment: $1.7 billion ($1.2 billion cited in some sources).
Details: Expansion of U.S. manufacturing, including a new facility in Rome, New York.
Source: White House, X posts.
GE Aerospace
Investment: $1 billion.
Details: Investment in factories across 16 states for jet engine production (commercial and military).
Source: Fox Business.
Schneider Electric
Investment: $700 million.
Details: Investment in U.S. energy infrastructure, the largest in the company’s history.
Source: Fox Business.
Abbott Laboratories
Investment: $500 million.
Details: Improvements to facilities in Illinois and Texas, focusing on diagnostics and medical devices.
Source: Fox Business.
Bel Brands USA
Investment: $350 million.
Details: Expansion of cheese and snack production, ensuring all Babybel cheeses sold in the U.S. are made with American milk.
Source: Fox Business.
United Arab Emirates
Investment: $1.4 trillion (10-year agreement).
Details: Sustaining investments in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing.
Source: Newsweek, X posts.
Cyclic Materials
Investment: $20 million.
Details: First commercial facility in the U.S., focused on recycling and materials processing.
Source: X posts.
Stellantis
Investment: $5 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. manufacturing network to build more vehicles domestically.
Source: White House, X posts.
Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Volvo
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Reported to be investing or moving production to the U.S., attributed to Trump’s tariff policies. Specific figures not provided.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Bayer, Chevron, Coinbase, Toyota, GM
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Announced investments in the U.S., though specific figures and projects are not detailed.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Walmart, Benz, Pratt
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Part of investment announcements, but details are limited.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
CMA CGM
Investment: $20 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. operations, though specifics are not fully detailed.
Source: X posts.
Venture Global LNG
Investment: Unspecified.
Details: Investment in U.S. energy projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Siemens
Investment: Unspecified.
Details: Investment in U.S. manufacturing, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Cardone Capital
Investment: $1 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Saudi Arabia
Investment: $600 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Context and Analysis:
Total Investment Pledged: Over $8 trillion has been pledged since Trump’s election, with tech giants alone committing over $1.6 trillion. However, historical precedent suggests not all pledges will fully materialize.
Driving Factors: Trump’s policies, including 25% tariffs on steel/aluminum imports, 10–30% tariffs on various countries, and deregulation (e.g., expedited approvals for investments over $1 billion), have encouraged companies to invest domestically to avoid tariffs and leverage incentives. The United States Investment Accelerator, established via executive order, facilitates investments above $1 billion by streamlining regulations.
Sectors: Investments span technology (AI, semiconductors), automotive, pharmaceuticals, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure. AI infrastructure and chip manufacturing are particularly prominent due to Trump’s “America First” trade policies.
Economic Impact: These investments are projected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, though tariffs have raised concerns about inflation and potential recession risks, with GDP growth estimates for Q1 2025 ranging from -2.8% to 2.5%.
Skepticism: Some investments (e.g., Apple’s $500 billion) may include pre-existing plans repackaged to align with Trump’s agenda. Bloomberg notes that corporate pledges during Trump’s first term did not always fully materialize, urging caution.
Notes on Sources:
Web Sources: Information is primarily drawn from White House announcements, news outlets (Fox Business, CNN, Newsweek, Bloomberg), and financial analyses. These provide detailed figures and contexts but may reflect Trump administration framing.
X Posts: Posts on X mention additional companies (e.g., Roche, Cyclic Materials) but lack detailed verification and are treated as inconclusive unless corroborated. They reflect sentiment but are not definitive evidence.
Critical Examination: While the Trump administration and supporters tout these investments as direct results of policy, some announcements (e.g., Apple, TSMC) align with prior commitments, and economic uncertainty from tariffs has led to market volatility. Always consider potential overstatement in official claims.
For further details, you can check primary sources like www.whitehouse.gov or news outlets such as Fox Business and Bloomberg. If you want specifics on any company or sector, let me know!
I think the tariff wars will be a very short term thing that will help the working class in the long run. Many nations are already scrambling to cut deals with Trump, and that’s a good thing.
According to who… ?there is no evidence that any countries are scrambling and Trump said in his most recent interview the if countries aren’t making deals. He’s gonna make the deals. He’s the deal dealmaker…. So really?
"China has quietly started to exempt some U.S. goods from tariffs that likely cover around $40 billion worth of imports, in what looks like an effort to soften the blow of the trade war on its own economy." -- Detroit News, 5/2/2025
Marita, this is what a Man in the Arena looks like. You haven’t seen this kind of action and activity from a POTUS before, in your lifetime - which is preventing you from seeing beyond the bridge of your nose. You may be young person, who is used to quick change. An entire system is being changed and challenged right now. Which takes time, and perseverance to recalibrate.
Recalibrate to what end? From a democracy to a dictatorship? It isn’t the abhorrent/ outlandish policies on every front that is the most disturbing. It is the disregard of the constitution, rule of law and the separate but co equal branches of government. We have been in this place in the US historically, before, not in my lifetime, but Americans have always persevered and democracy has prevailed.
I’m not seeing a dictatorship except howled by those no longer holding the White House. Congress long ago abdicated its constitutional powers to the executive branch. It began under Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and then supercharged under FDR in the 1930’s. At those times, it was argued that ‘change’ was occurring too slowly, too ‘hard’ to pass progressive legislation through traditional Congress channels, and so executive agencies (unelected bureaucracy) were created to bypass the constitutional constraints and rule by regulation. That to me, is unconstitutional. And I’m now pleased to see some of these agencies being dismantled. Congress can now step back up and fulfill their proper constitutional role, rather than outsourcing it. Every EO Trump signs can be undone. They only stick if Congress codifies them into lasting law. I’m now waiting for DOGE to research how our Congressional reps and Senators became so wealthy, after assuming office (both R’s & D’s). If Trump is smart, he’ll hold that info private, and only publicize if the Congressperson won’t play ball to codify common sense back into laws.
Excellent - just when we should be freeing ourselves and our family from a lifetime of clutter & debt the DEMs decide this is a winning message! Overspending in government and by people who are in debt is really a doom loop.
I’m old enough to remember Jimmy Carter’s malaise speech.
The problem was not that he didn’t tell pretty lies. The problem was that he made it sound like the future of America was bleak, where we could never again have sufficient fuel to drive our cars or heat our homes as we had previously enjoyed.
He didn’t offer any vision of America overcoming setbacks. Instead, our only choice was to accept a limited vision of the future.
Chinese exports are tanking and the internal pressure to make a deal with Trump will resolve the Tarrif issue before the lunatic left can mount an effective virtue signaling campaign. The news cycle is also to short and the middle spectrum of voters is growing tired of the hysterical vanity posturing. Come November 2026 no one will remember a save the dolls add.
I clearly remember Jen Psaki making fun of people who after 18 months, were complaining about our supply chain and the difficulty in getting an order filled. She said “poor people… can’t get your treadmill. How tragic…” For the sake of keeping us locked down for way too long, and destroying our supply chain, we should all SACRIFICE.
“But that’s because wealth and power have shifted leftwards, and what they care more about is their image as “good people.” The left don’t care about anything except hating Trump. It comes before everything else. Not health, poverty, education, transportation, shopping, community - literally nothing.
Hate Trump comes FIRST.
I believe the complete and utter destruction of the quality of the things we buy and the 3rd world status of our services, reflects on the quality of our culture. It’s demoralizing and it’s destructive.
That's what the tariff showdown is all about. It's gonna take a lot of time to restore our industrial capacity, but it must be done. History shows how the Allies ( primarily the USA ) were able to outperform the Axis to ultimately win Ww2. The security & jobs are way down the road, but we'll get there once the "progressive" element in our society loses politically. We just have to be patient and stay the course. Our very survival depends on it....
I stopped buying Made in China in March 2020 when China sent the COVID pandemic, hid it from the world for 3 months & then cut off Health Supplies. I'm a healthcare worker & we suffered b/c we didn't have PPE, masks, ventilators, drugs b/c China cut us off. It is a National Security Issue. Thankfully, President Trump's Industrial Policy directed factories to manufacture the necessary goods. It became clear to me how important it is for the USA to Manufacture all essentials. So for 5 years now, I have avoided Made in China ( I am very strict about it & religiously check all labels, if no country of origin listed, I do not buy). I mostly buy Made in USA but also sometimes Made in Canada, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, S Korea. Never SE asia tran-shipping countries.
Yeah, SS, those Chinese companies tried to pull a fast one on the US, but the President just slammed the others with tariff increases too. We're gonna hurt for a while, until we catch up on our infrastructure/production, but it's something that was ignored for a long time.
China is going to be in a world of hurt, and that's a good thing, I'm hoping this will put a big cramp in their military spending, and all their neighbors ( and us too ) will be able to breathe easier......🫣
Mediocrity is the standard. C is the new A. Quality is irrelevant for the most part. How much shit one owns is the most important thing. Cheap is considered before quality.
Yes & I personally cannot stand this. I buy very very little & only things that are high-quality and last for a lifetime. I do a lot of research before buying anything. It must be very long-lasting for me to buy it. Most of my clothes are 30-40 years old, they look great, I wash on delicate cycle only. I wear clothes I got from my mom, mother in law, friends, family, etc. My kids all proudly wear hand me downs. But I see people who say things like "you should buy it, it's so cheap!" "I bought that because it was so cheap!". I sort of want to shake them out like a rag doll, like do these people realize that cheap junk crap is bad for them? Cheap junk is full of toxins, causing cancer and auto-immune disease, destroying the planet.
As a female, I hate dolls. Have always hated dolls. And clowns. They’re the stuff haunted houses are made of. Save the money and put it into an investment account. I’ve always liked investment accounts.
It would had been better if Trump had used the term "sustainable" when he commented about 2 dolls instead of 30. Sad that the brains of many people are unable to make that simple connection.
We kids played in the box from the new washing machine that finally broke down after, like, twenty years. Oh, that giant box fort was always fun, wasn't it?
Oh yea, boxes are the best! My kids love boxes. They draw on them, cut holes & turn them into Rocket Ships and Boats. They have so much fun. They ride on them, pull each other in them, crawl in them.
Yes. Walmart still has a lot of Made in USA items. 75% estimated currently. I shop at Walmart.
On the other hand, Target is mostly Made in China.
They have a different structure. Walmart buys high quality items for more money, sells with smaller margins, at lower prices. But more Quantity. So they make less money per item but sell a lot overall so make it up on volume.
However, Target buys low quality items, sells them at higher prices, with greater margins per item. But less Quantity. So Target makes more money per item but sells less overall.
In other words, Walmart= high quality items, lower prices. Target=low quality items (with Fancy Marketing & Packaging), higher prices.
Sasha, your short takes are not of the same quality as the longer pieces. I think this is because you're reacting to media framing rather than writing from your lived experience. Reconsider.
If you want more dolls, I suggest estate sales... My kids have way to much and value too little. That is on me. I think Trumps message is the adult message. Even if it won't get you votes. We will see where everything is in a year and a half. Then we will know if the midterms will be MAGA or RESIST. People say they want change, but change requires the struggle of going outside how you ever did anything. Maybe they don't really want change....
If you can't afford toys for your kids but carry around a thousand dollar phone and have cable TV, you are not poor. You have misplaced priorities
You could well be poor, but a user of credit cards.
U.S. credit card debt has seen substantial growth over the past few years:
Q4 2020: $819 billion
Q4 2021: $856 billion
Q4 2022: $986 billion
Q4 2023: $1.13 trillion
Q4 2024: $1.21 trillion
This upward trend reflects a 48% increase in credit card balances since the beginning of 2021.
Those figures don’t mean much at all, half of credit card usage isn’t debt (paid in full monthly, rewards/air miles/cashback). As young people are more educated and show more interest in this space, they’re likely to go 100% credit instead of debit and those figures will skyrocket.
As of early 2025, nearly half of American credit cardholders are carrying balances month to month, with average debts per person ranging between $6,400 and $6,730. This trend reflects growing financial strain amid persistent inflation, high interest rates, and recent tariffs that have increased consumer prices.
Current Credit Card Debt Landscape
48% of credit cardholders carry a balance from month to month, up from 44% at the start of 2024.
53% of those with credit card debt have been in debt for at least a year, leading to significant interest accumulation.
Average credit card balance among U.S. consumers was $6,730 as of Q3 2024, marking a 3.5% increase from the previous year.
Average balance per person carrying debt is approximately $6,400, with interest rates around 20%, potentially extending repayment periods significantly if only minimum payments are made.
Factors Contributing to Rising Credit Card Debt
- Inflation and High Interest Rates: Persistent inflation and elevated interest rates have increased the cost of living, making it more challenging for consumers to pay off credit card balances.
- Unexpected Expenses: Approximately 47% of borrowers cite unexpected or emergency expenses—such as medical bills or car and home repairs—as primary reasons for carrying a balance.
Tariffs Impact: Recent tariffs have contributed to higher consumer prices, further straining household budgets and potentially leading to increased reliance on credit cards.
Outlook for 2025: Financial analysts anticipate that credit card balances will continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. TransUnion projects credit card balances to increase to $1.1 trillion by the end of 2025, representing a 4.4% year-over-year rise.
Serious credit card delinquency rates (90+ days past due) are also expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, reaching 2.76%, indicating ongoing financial challenges for many consumers.
Note a few things in the stats above:
1. Much of the data is before impacts of tariffs kick in. Not to worry though! Trump is a busy bee with concepts of plans of deals and such with the 1st HUGE one being announced yesterday, so no doubt we'll all be in for a windfall soon enuff. Prior to announcing the deal, Trump "truthed" The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the US & UK for many years to come. Once the plan was announced, it was indeed a concept of a plan. The main element of the MAJOR TRADE DEAL is that the 10% tariffs on British imports will be 10%, but that the announced 27.5% tariffs on British cars will be dropped to 10%, while the tariffs on British aluminum and steel will be eliminated entirely. In exchange, the British will ease the import of American beef and ethanol (i.e., products made by the farmers who are key to Trump's base) but the specifics are unclear. In other words, if you have a few pennies kicking around, you can buy a Range Rover or Bentley with only a 10% tariff! Prior to Trump's inauguration on J20 25, British-made luxury cars—such as Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and Aston Martins—were subject to a 2.5% U.S. import tariff, consistent with the standard rate for passenger vehicles under World Trade Organization rules. If you're one of the lucky 1st 100k purchasers of a British made luxury car and decided you must have a Bentley Continental GTC Azure V8 (one of the mid priced ones), it would cost you close to $390k an increase of only $35k since Trump became president!
2. 5 hours ago today Trump "truthed": Costs down, NO INFLATION. Very different from what the Fed, and Fake News Media, were hoping for!"
If Trump says there is no inflation, there is NO inflation y'all! even if there is.
Poor kids don't get "American Dolls". They - and their "accessories" - are quite expensive.
I guess they'll be okay. I pretty much grew up on mud, sticks and scrap metal for toys.
Yes, America's little girls may have a few less dolls under the tree this Christmas... On the upside, as adults, they may have a secure, well-paying job to look forward to, and lots of disposable income to buy their kids many dolls or other sorts of toys... Some good old fashioned deferred gratification... Sounds worth it to me...
"Adults "may" have a secure, well-paying job to look forward to": That a BIG "may" especially with trump changing his mind every 5 minutes about tariffs. No one wants to invest in trump's imaginary "new factories" because they don't know what he is going to do next. And of course, tariffs are passed on to the consumer...
He is not freaking changing his mind every 5 minutes! He is strategizing and negotiating. OMG. THE ART OF THE DEAL! Let the man work. You people are such spoiled children. He is attempting to reorder the entire system organized AGAINST the American citizen. It’s been 100 days. Will you give the man, who apparently was saved by the good Lord in heaven, a chance to do what he promised to do??
You think he has a "strategy"? You are dreaming....
Trump wrote "The Art of the Grift"
Trump’s two older sons have pursued a blitz of family moneymaking ventures capitalizing on their father’s name and power, each seemingly trying to outdo the other. It is a rush to cash in that involves billions of dollars with few precedents in American history.
A luxury hotel in Dubai. A second high-end residential tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two cryptocurrency ventures based in the United States. A new golf course and villa complex in Qatar. And a new private club in Washington. In many cases these new deals promoted over the last week will personally benefit not only Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., but also Trump himself.
What's a matter? Not grifty enough for you? Maybe Don Jr. should take up painting "art work." By closing the border President Trump will have saved 100's of thousands of lives from fentanyl alone. So what if the kids make a buck.
Well, the right freaked out when Hunter worked for worked for Burisma. I'm sure the Trump boys are making far more than Hunter ever did. Do you think cryptocurrency might bring in more than Hunter's paintings? And Jared Kushner got $2B from his favorite Saudi prince MSB which the created the appearance of potential payback for Kushner, given that he had been a staunch defender of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman while at the White House.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/04/trump-effect-a-running-list-of-new-u-s-investment-in-president-trumps-second-term/
I asked Grok on X:
During Donald Trump’s second term as the 47th President, numerous companies have announced significant investments in the United States, driven by policies such as tariffs, deregulation, and incentives for domestic manufacturing. Below is a list of companies reported to be investing in America, based on available information from web sources and posts on X. Note that some investments may have been planned prior to Trump’s term, and not all pledged investments are guaranteed to materialize.
Major Companies Investing in the U.S.:
Apple
Investment: $500 billion over four years.
Details: Focused on expanding U.S. manufacturing, AI server production, and job creation (20,000 new jobs). Includes a new server manufacturing facility in Houston and a supplier academy in Michigan. Announced after a meeting with Trump, possibly to mitigate tariff impacts.
Source: White House, CNN Business, Bloomberg.
NVIDIA
Investment: $500 billion over four years.
Details: Investment in U.S.-based AI infrastructure, including manufacturing AI supercomputers and chips domestically. Aimed at strengthening supply chains and meeting AI demand.
Source: White House, Fox Business.
SoftBank
Investment: $100–$700 billion.
Details: Includes a $100 billion investment announced at Mar-a-Lago for AI and infrastructure, creating 100,000 jobs. Also part of a $500 billion AI infrastructure project (Project Stargate) with Oracle and OpenAI, and a $700 billion partnership with Oracle/OpenAI.
Source: White House, Newsweek, CNN Business.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
Investment: $100 billion (in addition to $65 billion previously committed).
Details: Investment in Arizona-based semiconductor chip manufacturing, building five fabrication facilities. Expected to create thousands of high-paying jobs. Described as the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history.
Source: White House, CNN Business, Bloomberg.
Hyundai
Investment: $20–$21 billion (2025–2028).
Details: Includes a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana (producing 2.7 million metric tons annually, creating 1,400 jobs) to supply auto plants in Alabama and Georgia. Additional investments in automobile production ($9 billion), parts/logistics ($6 billion), and energy/EV infrastructure ($6 billion). Expected to create over 100,000 jobs.
Source: CNN Business, Fox Business.
Johnson & Johnson
Investment: $55 billion.
Details: Investments in manufacturing, R&D, and technology upgrades, including a new biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina. Represents a 25% increase over prior investments.
Source: Newsweek, Fox Business.
Eli Lilly
Investment: $27 billion.
Details: Expansion of domestic pharmaceutical production and new facilities.
Source: Fox Business, X posts.
Roche
Investment: $50 billion.
Details: Pharmaceutical company investing in U.S. operations, though specific details are limited.
Source: X posts (inconclusive without further verification).
Merck
Investment: $9 billion.
Details: Expansion of domestic vaccine and drug production capacity.
Source: Fox Business, X posts.
IBM
Investment: $150 billion over five years.
Details: Growth in U.S. research, chip development, and AI technology.
Source: White House, Fox Business.
Amazon
Investment: $4 billion.
Details: Focused on small towns, creating over 100,000 jobs. Part of broader investment pledges.
Source: White House, X posts.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Investment: $3 billion.
Details: Agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at a North Carolina facility.
Source: White House.
NorthMark Strategies
Investment: $2.8 billion.
Details: Building a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
Source: White House.
Kimberly-Clark
Investment: $2 billion.
Details: Expansion of U.S. manufacturing, including a new facility in Warren, Ohio, and upgrades in Beech Island, South Carolina.
Source: White House.
Chobani
Investment: $1.7 billion ($1.2 billion cited in some sources).
Details: Expansion of U.S. manufacturing, including a new facility in Rome, New York.
Source: White House, X posts.
GE Aerospace
Investment: $1 billion.
Details: Investment in factories across 16 states for jet engine production (commercial and military).
Source: Fox Business.
Schneider Electric
Investment: $700 million.
Details: Investment in U.S. energy infrastructure, the largest in the company’s history.
Source: Fox Business.
Abbott Laboratories
Investment: $500 million.
Details: Improvements to facilities in Illinois and Texas, focusing on diagnostics and medical devices.
Source: Fox Business.
Bel Brands USA
Investment: $350 million.
Details: Expansion of cheese and snack production, ensuring all Babybel cheeses sold in the U.S. are made with American milk.
Source: Fox Business.
United Arab Emirates
Investment: $1.4 trillion (10-year agreement).
Details: Sustaining investments in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing.
Source: Newsweek, X posts.
Cyclic Materials
Investment: $20 million.
Details: First commercial facility in the U.S., focused on recycling and materials processing.
Source: X posts.
Stellantis
Investment: $5 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. manufacturing network to build more vehicles domestically.
Source: White House, X posts.
Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Volvo
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Reported to be investing or moving production to the U.S., attributed to Trump’s tariff policies. Specific figures not provided.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Bayer, Chevron, Coinbase, Toyota, GM
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Announced investments in the U.S., though specific figures and projects are not detailed.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Walmart, Benz, Pratt
Investment: Unspecified amounts.
Details: Part of investment announcements, but details are limited.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
CMA CGM
Investment: $20 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. operations, though specifics are not fully detailed.
Source: X posts.
Venture Global LNG
Investment: Unspecified.
Details: Investment in U.S. energy projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Siemens
Investment: Unspecified.
Details: Investment in U.S. manufacturing, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Cardone Capital
Investment: $1 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts.
Saudi Arabia
Investment: $600 billion.
Details: Investment in U.S. projects, specifics not provided.
Source: X posts (inconclusive).
Context and Analysis:
Total Investment Pledged: Over $8 trillion has been pledged since Trump’s election, with tech giants alone committing over $1.6 trillion. However, historical precedent suggests not all pledges will fully materialize.
Driving Factors: Trump’s policies, including 25% tariffs on steel/aluminum imports, 10–30% tariffs on various countries, and deregulation (e.g., expedited approvals for investments over $1 billion), have encouraged companies to invest domestically to avoid tariffs and leverage incentives. The United States Investment Accelerator, established via executive order, facilitates investments above $1 billion by streamlining regulations.
Sectors: Investments span technology (AI, semiconductors), automotive, pharmaceuticals, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure. AI infrastructure and chip manufacturing are particularly prominent due to Trump’s “America First” trade policies.
Economic Impact: These investments are projected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, though tariffs have raised concerns about inflation and potential recession risks, with GDP growth estimates for Q1 2025 ranging from -2.8% to 2.5%.
Skepticism: Some investments (e.g., Apple’s $500 billion) may include pre-existing plans repackaged to align with Trump’s agenda. Bloomberg notes that corporate pledges during Trump’s first term did not always fully materialize, urging caution.
Notes on Sources:
Web Sources: Information is primarily drawn from White House announcements, news outlets (Fox Business, CNN, Newsweek, Bloomberg), and financial analyses. These provide detailed figures and contexts but may reflect Trump administration framing.
X Posts: Posts on X mention additional companies (e.g., Roche, Cyclic Materials) but lack detailed verification and are treated as inconclusive unless corroborated. They reflect sentiment but are not definitive evidence.
Critical Examination: While the Trump administration and supporters tout these investments as direct results of policy, some announcements (e.g., Apple, TSMC) align with prior commitments, and economic uncertainty from tariffs has led to market volatility. Always consider potential overstatement in official claims.
For further details, you can check primary sources like www.whitehouse.gov or news outlets such as Fox Business and Bloomberg. If you want specifics on any company or sector, let me know!
Time will tell if the “pledged investments” materialize.
We need the manufacturing but Trump lies on the mass jobs created see Foxconn.
Ok, so how much of that is on Foxconn? I live in WI where they said there were going to invest. Shame on them for lying.
Nw is doing so well. Lol
Epictetus said it best about what true wealth means. "Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants."
As did the Buddha.
Or maybe not getting what you want, but wanting what you got... wasn't it the great philosopher Sheryl Crow who once said that???
I think the tariff wars will be a very short term thing that will help the working class in the long run. Many nations are already scrambling to cut deals with Trump, and that’s a good thing.
According to who… ?there is no evidence that any countries are scrambling and Trump said in his most recent interview the if countries aren’t making deals. He’s gonna make the deals. He’s the deal dealmaker…. So really?
"China has quietly started to exempt some U.S. goods from tariffs that likely cover around $40 billion worth of imports, in what looks like an effort to soften the blow of the trade war on its own economy." -- Detroit News, 5/2/2025
China knows exactly on which side their bread is buttered.
You'd butter believe it.
Seriously, butter.
Its always in the dark of night….🤔
Marita, this is what a Man in the Arena looks like. You haven’t seen this kind of action and activity from a POTUS before, in your lifetime - which is preventing you from seeing beyond the bridge of your nose. You may be young person, who is used to quick change. An entire system is being changed and challenged right now. Which takes time, and perseverance to recalibrate.
Recalibrate to what end? From a democracy to a dictatorship? It isn’t the abhorrent/ outlandish policies on every front that is the most disturbing. It is the disregard of the constitution, rule of law and the separate but co equal branches of government. We have been in this place in the US historically, before, not in my lifetime, but Americans have always persevered and democracy has prevailed.
I’m not seeing a dictatorship except howled by those no longer holding the White House. Congress long ago abdicated its constitutional powers to the executive branch. It began under Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and then supercharged under FDR in the 1930’s. At those times, it was argued that ‘change’ was occurring too slowly, too ‘hard’ to pass progressive legislation through traditional Congress channels, and so executive agencies (unelected bureaucracy) were created to bypass the constitutional constraints and rule by regulation. That to me, is unconstitutional. And I’m now pleased to see some of these agencies being dismantled. Congress can now step back up and fulfill their proper constitutional role, rather than outsourcing it. Every EO Trump signs can be undone. They only stick if Congress codifies them into lasting law. I’m now waiting for DOGE to research how our Congressional reps and Senators became so wealthy, after assuming office (both R’s & D’s). If Trump is smart, he’ll hold that info private, and only publicize if the Congressperson won’t play ball to codify common sense back into laws.
Excellent - just when we should be freeing ourselves and our family from a lifetime of clutter & debt the DEMs decide this is a winning message! Overspending in government and by people who are in debt is really a doom loop.
I’m old enough to remember Jimmy Carter’s malaise speech.
The problem was not that he didn’t tell pretty lies. The problem was that he made it sound like the future of America was bleak, where we could never again have sufficient fuel to drive our cars or heat our homes as we had previously enjoyed.
He didn’t offer any vision of America overcoming setbacks. Instead, our only choice was to accept a limited vision of the future.
Donald Trump sounds nothing like Jimmy Carter.
Did they name the attack submarine, "Peanut"? I don't recall.
Chinese exports are tanking and the internal pressure to make a deal with Trump will resolve the Tarrif issue before the lunatic left can mount an effective virtue signaling campaign. The news cycle is also to short and the middle spectrum of voters is growing tired of the hysterical vanity posturing. Come November 2026 no one will remember a save the dolls add.
Dick Minnis removingthecataract.substack.com
Amen. I’ve said for years that poverty is only ennobling if you’re already rich. To everybody else, it’s just 24/7/365 sucking.
I clearly remember Jen Psaki making fun of people who after 18 months, were complaining about our supply chain and the difficulty in getting an order filled. She said “poor people… can’t get your treadmill. How tragic…” For the sake of keeping us locked down for way too long, and destroying our supply chain, we should all SACRIFICE.
“But that’s because wealth and power have shifted leftwards, and what they care more about is their image as “good people.” The left don’t care about anything except hating Trump. It comes before everything else. Not health, poverty, education, transportation, shopping, community - literally nothing.
Hate Trump comes FIRST.
I believe the complete and utter destruction of the quality of the things we buy and the 3rd world status of our services, reflects on the quality of our culture. It’s demoralizing and it’s destructive.
That's what the tariff showdown is all about. It's gonna take a lot of time to restore our industrial capacity, but it must be done. History shows how the Allies ( primarily the USA ) were able to outperform the Axis to ultimately win Ww2. The security & jobs are way down the road, but we'll get there once the "progressive" element in our society loses politically. We just have to be patient and stay the course. Our very survival depends on it....
I couldn’t agree with you more.
I stopped buying Made in China in March 2020 when China sent the COVID pandemic, hid it from the world for 3 months & then cut off Health Supplies. I'm a healthcare worker & we suffered b/c we didn't have PPE, masks, ventilators, drugs b/c China cut us off. It is a National Security Issue. Thankfully, President Trump's Industrial Policy directed factories to manufacture the necessary goods. It became clear to me how important it is for the USA to Manufacture all essentials. So for 5 years now, I have avoided Made in China ( I am very strict about it & religiously check all labels, if no country of origin listed, I do not buy). I mostly buy Made in USA but also sometimes Made in Canada, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, S Korea. Never SE asia tran-shipping countries.
Yeah, SS, those Chinese companies tried to pull a fast one on the US, but the President just slammed the others with tariff increases too. We're gonna hurt for a while, until we catch up on our infrastructure/production, but it's something that was ignored for a long time.
China is going to be in a world of hurt, and that's a good thing, I'm hoping this will put a big cramp in their military spending, and all their neighbors ( and us too ) will be able to breathe easier......🫣
Mediocrity is the standard. C is the new A. Quality is irrelevant for the most part. How much shit one owns is the most important thing. Cheap is considered before quality.
Yes & I personally cannot stand this. I buy very very little & only things that are high-quality and last for a lifetime. I do a lot of research before buying anything. It must be very long-lasting for me to buy it. Most of my clothes are 30-40 years old, they look great, I wash on delicate cycle only. I wear clothes I got from my mom, mother in law, friends, family, etc. My kids all proudly wear hand me downs. But I see people who say things like "you should buy it, it's so cheap!" "I bought that because it was so cheap!". I sort of want to shake them out like a rag doll, like do these people realize that cheap junk crap is bad for them? Cheap junk is full of toxins, causing cancer and auto-immune disease, destroying the planet.
Yes, remember the baby formula shortage?
As a female, I hate dolls. Have always hated dolls. And clowns. They’re the stuff haunted houses are made of. Save the money and put it into an investment account. I’ve always liked investment accounts.
Charlie Brown Christmas: Lucy says "What I really wanted for Christmas was real estate".
Too many nights watching Twilight Zone while our parents played cards with their friends!
Again, thank Trump. Best. Troll. Ever. Oh, pah-lease, all that temu and Chinese crap just ends up in the landfill. Buy American.
Great essay. You put your finger on why the mall is a cathedral in middle America.
Amazon!
I think malls have dwindled considerably. Walmart has run them into bankruptcy. Kinda making her point in this essay.
Malls are dead. You're talking 1970-90.
Swarms of unsupervised yewts turning the malls into their playground killed the concept.
It would had been better if Trump had used the term "sustainable" when he commented about 2 dolls instead of 30. Sad that the brains of many people are unable to make that simple connection.
Uh, how many Actual Children have more than one doll that's Really Important?
IDK. I had only one doll when I was growing up.
We kids played in the box from the new washing machine that finally broke down after, like, twenty years. Oh, that giant box fort was always fun, wasn't it?
Oh yea, boxes are the best! My kids love boxes. They draw on them, cut holes & turn them into Rocket Ships and Boats. They have so much fun. They ride on them, pull each other in them, crawl in them.
No telly for me. I watch everything on my monitor.
When Bill Walton was alive the Walmart stores had Made in America banners in the stores, that’s still possible
You mean Sam Walton. Bill Walton was a basketball player and commentator and the world's tallest Deadhead.
Yes. Walmart still has a lot of Made in USA items. 75% estimated currently. I shop at Walmart.
On the other hand, Target is mostly Made in China.
They have a different structure. Walmart buys high quality items for more money, sells with smaller margins, at lower prices. But more Quantity. So they make less money per item but sell a lot overall so make it up on volume.
However, Target buys low quality items, sells them at higher prices, with greater margins per item. But less Quantity. So Target makes more money per item but sells less overall.
In other words, Walmart= high quality items, lower prices. Target=low quality items (with Fancy Marketing & Packaging), higher prices.
I happily coming up on my 2 year anniversary Target boycott. The one piece trans swimwear did it for me.
Lol
Yup I remember that! And the chest binders & Trans books for Kids
No dunking in college basketball either.
The banners will be made in China and be the only thing in the store
Sasha, your short takes are not of the same quality as the longer pieces. I think this is because you're reacting to media framing rather than writing from your lived experience. Reconsider.
If you want more dolls, I suggest estate sales... My kids have way to much and value too little. That is on me. I think Trumps message is the adult message. Even if it won't get you votes. We will see where everything is in a year and a half. Then we will know if the midterms will be MAGA or RESIST. People say they want change, but change requires the struggle of going outside how you ever did anything. Maybe they don't really want change....