Trump’s Secret Economic Power Tool: Unleashing American Energy

February 3, 2025

President Trump is once again proving that economic strength and energy dominance go hand in hand. As he takes decisive action to impose tariffs to leverage America’s economic power to level the global playing field, he is also unleashing the full power of America’s energy sector to ensure that working families aren’t left footing the bill.  

This strategy worked before, and it’s working again. During Trump’s first term, he wielded tariffs as a tool of economic leverage, standing firm against China’s trade abuses while keeping inflation low and energy prices affordable. Unlike the Biden administration, which suffocated American energy production and sent consumer prices soaring, President Trump is restoring balance: tariffs to strengthen America’s industrial base and energy production to keep household costs in check.  

Trump’s tariffs are a strategic measure, not a burden. In 2018 and 2019, he imposed billions in tariffs—including on Chinese goods—while inflation remained at just 2.13%. Even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) admitted at the time: “It’s going to take a little bit of toughness at the beginning. China will bark back. But they need us more than we need them—President Trump is right about that—and we should be strong.”

To suggest that Trump’s tariffs will raise prices across the economy without factoring in the reigning in of the regulatory state and unleashing of American energy production is dishonest and incorrect. Meanwhile, under Biden, energy costs rose nearly 20%, while household income barely budged at 1.3%. That’s not strength, that’s clear and abject failure.  

By reopening federal leasing, reversing Biden’s drilling bans, and cutting regulations, President Trump is ensuring that fossil fuel workers can provide the energy security America needs to thrive. High energy production means:  

• Lower costs for consumers including affordable gasoline, heating, and electricity and cheaper goods that use fossil fuels in their supply chains including toys, food, and clothing
• Protection from foreign energy blackmail and not being tied to OPEC price fixing 
• Stronger economic leverage at the negotiating table  

Joe Biden ignored trade leverage and begged OPEC for more oil, all while pretending to care about American workers. Now, as Trump takes bold action to correct these failures, the same critics who were silent under Biden are suddenly pretending to care about rising prices.  

But this time, American energy is back, and with it, the economic backbone to make tariffs work for American families, not against them.  

According to a PTF press release:

“During his first term, President Trump effectively used tariffs as part of American economic power while keeping energy costs low and increasing household income. In contrast, the Biden Administration orchestrated an all-out attack on American energy causing costs to increase nearly 20 percent while household income rose only 1.3 percent.”