Just a Thought

The thought below is my (Diane Sori), thought  alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com

[[[ Too many misguided folks on social media continue to claim that Trump is keeping the Iranians guessing...that he’s doing a great job by "crushing their military," and use as their example how few military attacks Iranian has recently been able to launch at any given time. And these same folks love adding that thanks to Trump the Iranian economy in a "free fall," all while he's been able to avoid the costly use of U.S. ground forces, but the fact is that ground forces are needed to help secure an actual win in whatever game of war is then being played.

 

And to add to their Trump love fest these same folks claim that Trump's handling of the Iran War will go down as one of, if not the most, incredible military operations in history. Just writing those words makes me want to gag.

 

To those folks who think Trump knows what he's doing, I say you are simply fooling yourselves. Trump "idol worship" is one thing...ignoring reality and tangible facts are quite another thing, and I truly believe that history will show this war as being  'Trump's Folly' for he has yet to fight this war to actually win. Why so...because wars are NOT about making deals with the enemy...wars are about a decided winner and loser...a true victory over the enemy...and at this point in time we are NOT winning anything because of Trump's refusing to understand that Iran has not lost anything until the last jihadist is no longer standing. 

 

Oh and by the way, one's enemy is neither crushed nor defeated until said enemy officially and unconditionally surrenders, the very something our enemy's religion itself forbids them from ever doing...let that fact sink in. ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.

Just a Thought

The thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

 

[[[ Yesterday on Glen Beck, President Trump said, “The strait, it’s functioning, it’s a functioning strait,” adding that, “Yes, every once in a while there will be a drone or a rocket or something shot, but it is a very functioning strait. A lot of oil is pouring out.”

Well, if foreign tankers are getting in to get oil out to buyers doesn't that work against the very blockade that Trump put into place to help strangle Iran's economy...just something to think about. ]]]

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.   

Op-ed:

Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.    

 

...When consumer buying power is down the “stock market” experiences what is known as “increased volatility,” because reduced consumer spending lowers corporate revenues and hence profits in a cause and effect scenario that tends to see overall stock valuations dropping. And this is what leads some investors into a panic mode, and thus “sell-offs” (as devaluations) begin....a vicious cycle indeed. 

 

Remember, when the “stock market” drops too fast serious economic consequences can see the government possibly having to raise taxes, which in and of itself is an obstacle to economic growth. And this helps to tie the “stock market” and the economy together, as does war itself for uncertainty of a war's outcome, coupled with the logistics of what would likely be rising inflation, tends to see panic driven “sell-offs,” directly affecting overall economic conditions. 

 

Drops in the “stock market” are normal expected occurrences for today's drop can easily turn into tomorrow's gain. But when the game of war is thrown into the mix...in this case the war with Iran...the tie between the “stock market” and the economy becomes critical. Why so...because if said war does not turn out as we hope it does, the “stock market” could see gains being immediately wiped out which in turn will affect our economy and “We the American People” to a degree we have not seen in decades. Read entire article here.

Op-ed:

Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.    

Last week I put up a post on a few social media sites stating that the “stock market” is down almost across the board, and that it’s because President Trump refuses to do what even he has to know needs to be done in regards to Iran.

And while the majority of those who read my post did agree with my statement others did not...as is their right...as they either have no idea that the “stock market” is both a key indicator of how our American economy is doing and thus affects the pocketbooks of each and every one of us to some degree, or they simply don't care as they still believe that the “stock market” only affects the rich and/or those who invest.

So maybe it's time for a lesson in “Economics 101” on how the “stock market” plays into it courtesy of five bonafide facts...facts in simplified layman's terms of course.

Fact One: Over the past 20 to 30 years there has been a tremendous increase in the number of people...including young people...putting their monies into the “stock market” as opposed to a regular bank type savings account and/or a CD (Certificates of Deposit) as was the case for most folks in the past. Why so...because with today's interest rates remaining relatively low in regards to buying a home...they currently, as I write this, hover in the 6% range compared to the 1980s when said interest rates reached 18.63% on average...folks tend to forget that in turn the same interest rates will remain low for CD's and for savings accounts as well. And the consequences of this fact means that very little money...very little profit...is being made off those entities, thus turning them into basically negative yielding investments.

Remember, in the early 1980s, CD rates were between 15% and 18%, and in some cases they topped 18.19% if one had what was referred to as an ”Extended CD” for over three months or for over a year. For example, if someone had a $100,000 at 18% there was little to no monetary risks involved. However, over the last 20 years the average CD rates have been between 0.1% and 5%...extremely low puts it mildly..,meaning putting money into a CD with the hopes of making money was foolish indeed. And that’s why over these past 20 years we’ve seen increasing numbers of people from all walks of life putting their money into the “stock market” so that their money can actually start to work for them instead of into low yielding savings accounts and IRAs.

Fact Two: The “stock market” today has now become a modern day savings account of sorts, and it's not just for the rich any more, but for middle and upper middle class families as well...families who no longer believe that the traditional type of savings account will help them to increase their wealth now or in the future. And this makes perfect sense because when one invests in the “stock market” one's money immediately starts working for you which is simply not possible with bank driven low interest rates.

Fact Three: Today, almost 62% of American adults currently have some monies invested in the “stock market,” with the number of middle-class and working-class Americans investing now up 54% as opposed to five years ago, with said number equating to those who earn between a modest $30,000 to $80,000 per year.

But here one needs to understand that while one can make large sums of money courtesy of wise investments, and sometimes in a relatively short period of time...one can also lose large sums of money also in a short period of time. How so? Simply, more times than not, it's courtesy of a downturn in the economy coupled with rising inflation numbers, as well as in times of war itself. And while wars...like the Iran War we now find ourselves in...can and usually does lead to short-term stock market “sell-offs,” hence falling numbers, those drops in number are usually not long lasting, as historical data itself shows that geopolitical events, like wars, usually do not have prolong effects on the trending course of the “stock market” itself.

Fact Four: However, when times of war are combined with what is economic woes for the majority of people...as in when both gas and grocery prices rise even a small percentage...a “stock market” drop in numbers can be disconcerting for far too many folks, especially those new to the market. And why so...because many new investors do not understand that it's the economy itself that sets the stage for both corporate performance and investor expectations, which in turn then drives “stock market” trends, and that it's how the “stock market” reacts to said trends that directly influences consumer spending, all important business investment, and overall economic sentiment, which can include monthly “jobs numbers.” Simply, the “stock market” is indeed a reflection of our county's economy and visa-versa. 

Fact Five: A president’s actions...no matter the political party the president belongs to...no matter the political party in control of the Congressional “power of the purse string”...we still find that both the economy and the “stock market” as being affected by their fiscal and trade policies, their regulatory decisions, their monetary policy appointments, their crisis managed leadership, as well as by a healthy or, in some cases, an unhealthy dose of public sentiment. And when combined together said presidential actions do indeed help to influence both Congress and the Feds, via their ability to shape both the policy environment and the parameters that key markets (including the “stock market”) and businesses operate within.

Simply, because presidents are responsible for implementing and enforcing the law, they surely do have some control over business and market regulations which in turn directly affects the economy itself, and thus filters down to the “stock market.” In President Trump's case think of his recent, what I consider to be, high stakes tariff fiasco...the one where he raised tariffs so high on certain countries doing business with the U.S. that said countries literally could not afford to continue doing business here unless said tariff raise was negated or at least neutralized. And how did the countries affected accomplish this...simply by passing on to the American consumer a price increase in the products being sold to them.

Not a good scenario indeed, yet a scenario that in many cases did happen in the past and can still happen now or in the future what with the economic buying power of many American families continuing to fall. And when this continues over a period of time the “stock market” is affected as well. How so? When consumer buying power is down the “stock market” experiences what is known as “increased volatility,” because reduced consumer spending lowers corporate revenues and hence profits in a cause and effect scenario that tends to see overall stock valuations dropping. And this is what leads some investors into a panic mode, and thus “sell-offs” (as devaluations) begin....a vicious cycle indeed.

Remember, when the “stock market” drops too fast serious economic consequences can see the government possibly having to raise taxes, which in and of itself is an obstacle to economic growth. And this helps to tie the “stock market” and the economy together, as does war itself for uncertainty of a war's outcome, coupled with the logistics of what would likely be rising inflation, tends to see panic driven “sell-offs,” directly affecting overall economic conditions.

Drops in the “stock market” are normal expected occurrences for today's drop can easily turn into tomorrow's gain. But when the game of war is thrown into the mix...in this case the war with Iran...the tie between the “stock market” and the economy becomes critical. Why so...because if said war does not turn out as we hope it does, the “stock market” could see gains being immediately wiped out which in turn will affect our economy and “We the American People” to a degree we have not seen in decades.

As a successful businessman President Trump knows all this...I just hope his wish for a “deal”...a “deal” he's trying to make with terrorists...does not backfire in his and our economic faces. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved. 

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, The Caregiver's Revenge.

**************************************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Tying the Economy and Stock Market Together'; 'The Caregiver's Revenge'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

  

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.   

...And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.” Read entire article here.

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.  

Let me start with these three facts. Fact One: I totally support our and Israel having gone to war with Iran. Fact Two: I voted for President Trump three times. Fact Three: I believe Trump has done amazingly well regarding the border, the illegal issue in general, and that he's for the most part been successfully tough on crime...drug and otherwise. But when it comes to the economy and the war with Iran I do have a few bones to pick.

And while in no way do I question President Trump's loyalty or love for our country, I do find that some of his choices and decisions have left me to wonder who exactly is he taking advice from, and more importantly...why.

The man who promised to fix the economy has really done nothing of note as prices at the pump and at the grocery store continue to rise, fallback a bit, then rise again. And it's not because of how the stock market or the oil industry itself responds to whomever is in control of the now morphed into “Strait of Hormuz” oil war with Iran, but is manly due to the fact that when you exceedingly raise tariffs on the countries we trade with, those countries in turn must raise prices on what they sell to we American consumers in order to pay for the imposed tariff increases that cut deeply into their all important profit margin.

Simply, our president seems not to understand that the success of the “Art of the Deal” in the real estate/construction market does not automatically result in one having success in both the global economic market, and in the game of war...most especially when deals brokered with an enemy are not the victory “We the People” had been promised and counted on.

The game of war, if played correctly, has for the most part obvious winners and losers, but sometimes we see the good guys having to leave the battlefield with their tails dragging behind them, so to speak, and it's not because they could not win the physical aspects of a given war, but because they were politically and militarily not allowed to do the job needed to win said war. Such is the case in regards to the Korean War which ended in a quasi-stalemate of sorts; the Vietnam War which if not an outright defeat, was not even close to being a victory; and not to be forgotten is Afghanistan where our then President Joe Biden willingly turned the country back over to the enemy, the Taliban.

Now for comparison, think back to the days of World War I and World War II when if not for U.S. entry into both wars we, at least those of us still alive, would probably be speaking either German or Japanese right now. But thankfully, those were the days when wars were fought to win with the enemy rightfully reduced to bended knee...a time when negotiating with the enemy was never an option...surrender or die was the only choice given.

And while some will say that the war with Iran we now find ourselves in is different than any other war we've previously fought in, because we're dealing with not only the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, but with hatred so overwhelming that it is being fueled on by both bloodlust and a religious calling...as in “jihad.” But please tell me how today's “jihad” now differs from Nazi Germany, the Third Reich, and of course the nefarious deportations, gas chambers, and ovens constructed to commit mainly, but not solely, Jewish genocide.

The difference, as I see it, is but two-fold. First, the “modus operendi” sees Nazi Germany's ovens vs. today's mega bombs and drones...coupled with the mindset that to die for the cause is now, for the IRGC, as much of an honored cause for Iran today as it was for Hitler and the Nazis, as well as for the Japanese kamikazes of the 1930s and 1940s.

And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.”

And that part has come to light courtesy of the 'Jerusalem Post” who reported last week that an older Iranian professor was able to get a letter smuggled out to Israel stating that, “The people of Iran are in a very bad psychological state and have little hope for the future,” and “are fearful that the sacrifices they made in demonstrating against the regime will be erased if US President Donald Trump makes a deal with Tehran.”And this is the very thing that I, and a growing number of Americans, fear as well.

So as this latest Iranian cease-fire deal now appears to be near “finalization,” as per Trump on “Truth Social,” the truth is that as I started to write this the negotiations were stalled yet again. Why so? First, because Trump's latest addition thrown into the peace deal mix now includes having the regions other Arab nations “simultaneously” signing onto the “Abraham Accords.” And while this is truly a noble idea...it is being presented as an all or nothing mandatory component...as in sign on or its back to bombs falling and bullets flying.

Threats might work for some Arab nations, but surely not for all. And besides, even if certain key Arab nations...like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan...did sign on to the “Abraham Accords”... which is highly unlikely...there remains no guarantee it won't be with fingers crossed behind their backs. And while most Arab nations are not terrorist supporting nations, they all remain bound to the words and discourse as laid down in the Quran.

Second, while a deal would bring peace with Israel at first, it does not mean said peace would be long lasting, as a untied Arab front would always pose a danger not just to Israel, but to we in the western world as well. Remember, the “Abraham Accords” are but a signed piece of paper...a promise brokered to help keep a snaky peace...and yet the Arab hatred for Israel and the Jewish people will not disappear overnight as it goes back thousands of years.

And third, can this deal's promised economic incentives override what is an ingrained mindset after the initial“glow” of peace wears off? Simply, can what would become a Middle East “economic power house”...driven mostly by oil...ever be truly accepted by both Israel and the sum of the western world? We need an answer to that before any deal is made, before any deal is signed, especially with Iran now demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition for even continuing these talks.

So while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the negotiations are "still a work in progress,” and that there is a “pretty solid thing on the table in terms of getting the strait opened," one Esmaeil Baghaei (a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry) said that, “Iran is ‌negotiating an end to the war but is not discussing its nuclear program,” and that even though “progress has been made” it does not mean that, “the signing of an agreement is imminent.”

And that says it all for what we now see is but a ping-pong type of back and forth game of vocalized word semantics being played between President Trump and his team of diplomats vs. what's left of Iran's hardline islamist regime. And the game got more interesting when last week Iran accused the U.S. of a “grave violation” of the ceasefire after the U.S. military initiated "self-defense strikes" against Iranian forces, but with measured "restraint."

Simply stated, no matter the media's discourse, the fact that Iran still stands, the fact that Iran has yet to be fully defeated and shows absolutely no sign of surrendering... unconditionally or otherwise...coupled with the fact that the Iranian people are still not free...in fact, their plight has been lost in the Hormuz oil shuffle...means “Houston we still have a problem.” 

A problem indeed, especially now as Trump's people and Iranian negotiators have supposedly reached an agreement...yet unsigned as I write this...regarding the 60-day “Memorandum of Understanding”...the very same “understanding” which would extend this current anything but true ceasefire...while starting negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program...the one issue which should never be negotiable as far as I'm concerned.

So just maybe the problem's solution is Israel to the rescue. Remember, Israel was ready to finish the job last summer, but Trump was decidedly against it. And now Trump says he is in “no hurry” to make a deal he seemed so anxious to make, and so the problem does remain. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved. 

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, The Forensic Flagging of a Dead Horse.

**************************************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok'; 'The Forensic Flagging of a Dead Horse'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

Op-ed:

Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

...And to that, with all due honor and respect I say, “No, Mr. President you are wrong.” Why so...because as a businessman you had to know that no juggling of numbers of “tariff” raised revenues would ever be large enough to significantly filter down to “We the People's” pocketbooks let alone bring down the gross national debt, the prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Simple math alone does dictate that to be fact.

Donald Trump's intentions and motives in focusing on the “tariffs” cannot be questioned for he truly did believe the issue needed to be addressed...which it certainly did...it was just that, in my opinion, his timing was off in doing so what with so many American's monetarily still hurting.

And now when you add that President Trump wants part of the income from the “tariffs” to pay $2,000 dividends in seven year annual increments to low and middle income Americans, he has ignored the fact that in doing so it would actually counter his original intention of the “tariffs” helping to bring down the growing...Read entire article here.

Op-ed:

Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

 The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

Let me begin by saying that I voted for President Donald J. Trump three times, and would vote for him a fourth time if it was constitutionally allowed. I also think that as president he has done an amazing job when it comes to securing our southern border, removing those here illegally, cracking down on crime in America's cities, cutting bureaucratic wasteful spending, and in his striving to bring global peace. However, here I must add that Donald Trump, in his position as president, is not perfect...nobody is...in regards to what are two areas of growing concern to many Americans, as in the economy and the Israel/Hamas ceasefire that is anything but a ceasefire let alone a pathway to lasting peace.

In this 'Part One' of what is a two part series, I will first focus on the economy. And with that said, remember back to the 2024 presidential campaign when then candidate Donald Trump promised to reduce government expenditures by eliminating certain agencies; slashing federal regulations; ending spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; and cutting what he called “fraudulent spending”...all of which were indeed promises kept. In fact, as per the U,S. Treasury Department, “year-over-year federal spending growth” has declined during Trump’s first year of this current term. Score one for our side I'd say.

Also during that same campaign, Trump promised to end inflation, lower prices at the grocery store and at the “ pump,” as well as lowering the national debt. Has any of that happened to a significant or lasting degree...in a word,“no.” And why not...because for President Trump the word “tariffs” seemingly took over all vestiges of economic logic. And while I do agree that the “tariffs” needed to be addressed as per Trump's rightfully stating that we were being “taken advantage” of for far too long in regards to “tariffs,” I did, however, state on day one when Trump's “tariff” proposal was announced...and got much flack for it...that I believed now was not the right time to address the “tariffs.” And my reason given as to why was that the economy needed to be addressed first as American families and workers were still financially hurting after the four disastrous Biden/Harris years.

In fact, I believed then as I do now that a better way to lower grocery prices overall, without having to resort to “tariffs,” would have been if Trump had initiated a countrywide effort to help increase the production of our own home grown food supplies. How so...by his fostering in both the concept of “fair competition,” while also addressing the food supply chains rightfully called “inefficiencies.” And this could have simply been done by Trump's easing, or outright eliminating, some of the still in effect overburdening regulations that stifle efforts to increase what is our domestic food supply.

Simply, if the supply of domestic goods is readily available and fairly priced, then the  consumers demand for cheaper made foreign goods will start to wain, thus leaving the “tariff” issue to safely be addressed at a later time.

Now as for the price at the ” pump,” that too is being affected by the newest Trump “tariffs.” How and why so...because just like with grocery prices, gas prices do tend to go up as “tariffs” increase, especially in regards to imported “refined products.” Simply, any increase in the cost of imported energy...in this case it's in regards to diesel gasoline and crude oil...does tend to see the consumer paying higher prices at the pump. And while prices, for a short time, did drop but mostly on “regular” gasoline, the price drop was but pennies per gallon. Translation: not enough dollar savings has been acquired to really help the average American consumer at the “pump,” especially with many cars now on the road still needing “high test” not “regular” gasoline.

Here's but one example. As I was writing this article, here in south Florida my husband just paid $3.52 per gallon for high test gasoline to fill his 22-gallon tank car, for a total of $77.44. We used to pay around $3.60 per gallon earlier this year when Trump took office for a total of $79.20. Simply, my husband saved but a mere 8 cents per gallon to fill up his tank for a grand total savings of $1.76 per tank full...a quite laughable savings I'd say...a savings that cannot even buy someone a full carton of eggs.

But in regards to both grocery and gas prices I'd be remiss if I didn't say that the economy...and everything else Trump inherited...was an economy in total shambles, which in and of itself should have put the economy front and center of the Trump agenda not the “tariffs” which, in my opinion, just make a bad situation even worse for many Americans.

But something that must not to be forgotten in this discourse is that, thanks to President Trump, inflation itself has come down a bit even while prices at the grocery store and at the “pump” are on the rise up again. And why...partially because of the “tariffs” as a fair amount of imported goods (like coffee, fruits, seafood, nuts, cheese, and beef for example) do stock America's grocery store shelves. Remember, “tariffs” are basically a tax on imported goods which the taxed countries then pass on to we consumers by a rise in a given goods price.

And to give additional credence to my previously stated “economy first” then the tariffs opinion, many leading economists...economists like Thomas Sowell, Jeremy Siegel, and Joseph Stiglitz (winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.)...have also opined that in Trump's imposing the “tariffs” before addressing what were the underlying economic conditions was a mistake. And why so...because in his focusing on the “tariffs” in regards to their being revenue generating, Trump believed that it would help to correct what he considered to be a U.S. “trade deficit” while also helping to bring down the national debt. But with a “trade deficit” simply meaning that one country buys more goods and services from another country than it sells to that given county, more monies flow out of the country to pay for the imports than comes into said country as a payment for the exports.

“The impact of imposing these tariffs will have the effect of depressing U.S. economic growth, contributing to a higher rate of inflation, and those effects will be worse if the other countries retaliate in kind.”                                          

- Marcus Noland, executive vice president of the 'Peterson Institute for International Economics'

Think of it this way, the raising of “tariffs” on imported goods...Trump's still economic focus...will in the end be passed on to we the American consumers courtesy of a price rise initiated by the countries supplying said goods. And why the increase...because those countries need additional revenue to offset the Trump imposed increase in “tariffs” in order for them to be able to afford to purchase American exported goods which could, in turn, actually lead to a rise in inflation.

Now add in that Trump believed that his “tariff” objectives would, in ten years time, see a four trillion dollar reduction in the national debt (numbers shifting on paper), but the truth is that these “tariffs” would have done nothing of substance to lower said debt. And how did I know this...because I knew that while “tariffs” do generate a certain amount of income, the amount they generate is but a small portion of what are much needed government revenues. And when coupled with the fact that “tariffs” typically raise billions, not trillions, of dollars in revenue, it was easy to surmise that the numbers themselves simply would not allow for a truly meaningful reduction in the national debt no matter the time limit placed. And this is exactly what I said would be the outcome as soon as Trump announced his “tariff” plan.

A background in rocket science is not needed to figure that outcome out, a simple understating that two plus two will always equal four serves the purpose well. 

So even with the “tariffs” that were already in place before President Trump's newest round of “tariffs” was announced, the fact remains that our national debt did continue to increase not decrease, and the real time numbers prove it.

One case in point is that as of early November 2025, the U.S.gross national debt registered at approximately $38.09 trillion which is a $2.18 trillion increase over 2024's gross national debt, with the corresponding average daily increase being around $5.97 billion. And while interest payments alone remain in excess of $1.2 trillion, this allowed the debt-to-GDP ratio to keep rising because “tariff” generated revenues only offer a temporary fluctuation in deficit relief.

Simple translation: you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul when the tangible monies needed to do so are simply not available...or in this specific case are but a fraction of what would be needed to meaningfully bring down the national debt.

And yet while the “tariffs” were and still are being touted by President Trump as a possible solution to some of America's and Americans money woes...and know he does so with good intentions...the average American still sees no long range benefits being filtered down to their personal pocketbooks. And many have come out to voice that very opinion including FOX News' very own Laura Ingram who, during a recent on air “Ingram Angle” interview, pressed President Trump on American voters' growing what she called “anxieties” about the economy, affordability, inflation, and rising grocery and gas prices, to name but a few. And when she brought up the “tariffs” Trump's response was that, “the economy is the greatest we've ever had” while dismissing polls and voter anxieties as but a “con job” or “fake.”

And to that, with all due honor and respect I say, “No, Mr. President you are wrong.” Why so...because as a businessman you had to know that no juggling of numbers of “tariff” raised revenues would ever be large enough to significantly filter down to “We the People's” pocketbooks let alone bring down the gross national debt, the prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Simple math alone does dictate that to be fact.

Donald Trump's intentions and motives in focusing on the “tariffs” cannot be questioned for he truly did believe the issue needed to be addressed...which it certainly did...it was just that, in my opinion, his timing was off in doing so what with so many American's monetarily still hurting.

And now when you add that President Trump wants part of the income from the “tariffs” to pay $2,000 dividends in seven year annual increments to low and middle income Americans, he has ignored the fact that in doing so it would actually counter his original intention of the “tariffs” helping to bring down the growing national debt. Why so...because as per the non-partisan “Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget” (CRFB), the huge amount of monies being diverted via the payouts would push the national debt to 127% of the GDP by 2035, and possibly see it eventually rising to 134% of the GDP. Not good folks, not good at all.

Simply, the man, the president, I truly admire and was proud to vote for three times lost, in my opinion, his focus on exactly how to bring down the rising costs we Americans see on a daily basis in regards to grocery store prices and at the “pump.” Dwelling so deeply on the “tariffs”*  was not and is not the sole answer to our Biden/Harris inherited economic problems...the issue of the “tariffs” could have waited, and I'm glad that key economists on both sides of the political aisle are now saying exactly what I said months ago. I only hope, in my opinion, that this timing mistake does not affect the 2026 midterms in a negative way.

In “Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part Two,” (which will be published on Monday, December 1st, due to the Thanksgiving holiday), I will focus on a key foreign policy mistake President Trump made, and why it might well affect the 2028 presidential ticket...but for now, case closed.

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* Tariffs are a particularly bad way to raise revenue...a must read by The Brookings Institute 

Copyright © 2025 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

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For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, One Dumpster Fire After Another.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                        Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part One'; 'One Dumpster Fire After Another'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.